Hardyston's taxes stay flat

HARDYSTON-Residents have cause to rejoice - again. The township tax rate has not gone up since 1996, and this year's tax rate is a half-cent lower than last year's. "Our value as a township has gone up 50 percent, because we've added $170 million dollars of ratable growth, both residential and commercial - a huge amount of growth," said Township Manager Marianne Smith. The growth in the tax base has allowed the township to not just hold the line on taxes, but also to add services. Citizens will have their say on the township budget at a hearing on April 26. Meanwhile, the councilmen are reviewing the five-pounds-plus, blue loose-leaf document that Smith distributed to them at a workshop meeting on March 22. Reviewing the budget highlights, Smith addressed the councilmen: "We continue to maintain a conservative fiscal approach. The 2005 budget is much like the 2004 budget, but you will want to note the changes, which include funding for a few new staff members. "We'd like to add a position for one part-time secretary in the land-use office. When Hardyston restructured the office in 2004, the need for this position became apparent. In addition, we'd like to hire two new police officers on July 1. The police budget reflects our loss of the $12,000 grant COPS (Police in the Schools). That grant wasn't funded for 2005. "We also need to replace one police cruiser and one four-wheel-drive vehicle, as well as outdated video equipment in police vehicles. The police also need a Breathalyzer machine, which the law mandates they must have. "Our Department of Public Works (DPW) is carrying on with its road resurfacing program. Silver Grove Road is at the top of the list. The DPW plans to use old reserve funds to begin the necessary drainage work. This year, they need to replace a pickup truck and a. front-end loader." In a brief interview on March 28, Director of Public Works Bob Schultz noted that the new 10-ton, front-end wheel loader would replace the loader now in use, which is ten years old. "We'll be sending out bids before long," he said. "Our plan is to trade in the old loader to offset the cost of the new one. In winter, we use the loader to stock the salt trucks, and in summer, for construction projects." The budget proposes ending an agreement with Franklin under which the borough and the township shared a planning office. Hardyston would then establish its own planning office. The budget reflects a $60,400 loss in revenue from ending the agreement. The recreation department budget provides for new indoor bleachers, two new playing fields at the Littell Community Center, completion of the irrigation project at the sports and recreation center on Wheatsworth Road and funds to run a program called S.P.O.R.T.S. - Supportive Parents on the Right Track n which teaches parents how to demonstrate good sportsmanship to their children. "In addition, we want to hire a new part-time, evening recreation assistant," said Smith. "This position, however, will be financed largely by the trust funds we've accumulated by collecting rental fees for the recreation facility. "The Fire Department budget accommodates a down payment of $35,000 towards the purchase of a new 75-foot tower ladder fire about which Fire Chief Bill Hickerson compiled a huge amount of data. The fire department has ongoing needs, for firefighting gear, for which we've included funds under the existing capital improvement programs." The budget proposes continuing a capital program to buy protective suits for the first aid squad and to make a down payment on a new ambulance. There will be a "modest" increase in spending for the senior citizen transportation system. "Looking at some of the revenue changes from the 2004, budget, we have a one-time increase in our use of the budget surplus to help fund the furniture for our new municipal center, from $1,210,680 to $1,411,000, which is an increase of $200,320," said Smith. Most towns incur debt when they build new municipal buildings, but Hardyston's new headquarters on Wheatsworth Road will not raise the town's debt service, Smith said. "Using the former funding allocation for municipal building down payment, we can maintain debt service at existing levels in 2006, and use the budget surplus to pay cash for the furniture, rather than incurring additional debt. The contractors also have saved us some money, for example, by using less expensive light fixtures. "What is more, with the return of sorely needed Watershed Aid following the passage of the Highlands Act, our capital improvement program can continue."