This year’s budget, approved by the Raritan Township Committee in July 2009 included over $400,000 of revenue taken from the Raritan Township Municipal Sewer Authority (RTMUA).  In a difficult budgeting year, it is not surprising that the committee looked for new sources of revenue.  What is surprising is the lack of fairness to the sewer rate payers that this maneuver represents.  Approximately half of township residents pay for sewer service, the other half are on septic and don’t contribute to the RTMUA. 

Besides being unfair to ratepayers, this undermines the ability of the RTMUA to pay for future projects.  Several large projects that will keep the sewer system functioning effectively, safely and legally will be short changed as a result of the loss of money from the ratepayers.  Not only is this unwise, but it puts the RTMUA in the position of delaying mandated projects or raising rates to make up the deficit.

The raid on the RTMUA funds is just one example of our opponent’s unwise and unsound fiscal approach:

• A Zero Based budgeting approach has not been used even though it saved Flemington Borough $50,000 the first year they implemented it.
• Shared services have not been fully explored.  Discretionary projects continue.  Perks remain in the budget.  Grant opportunities go unused. 
• Opportunities to cut costs at the municipal building by upgrading the cooling system have gone unfunded as the cost of doing the upgrade only goes up.
• Last year’s attempt to merge our police force with Flemington’s was botched, leaving us with the largest line item in the municipal budget uncut.
• The municipal surplus has been run down to dangerous levels leaving us financially strapped in the event of an emergency.

We will take a fresh approach to fiscal discipline.  The easy cuts have been made to the municipal budget.  What’s needed are new ideas for getting the most services for our tax dollars.  If you agree that it’s time to Rethink Raritan’s fiscal approach, please tell your friends and vote for Marianne and Chan on November 3, 2009.