Vernon 2010 budget preparations have begun

Awaiting governor’s message and more work to do on ‘bare bones’ plan Vernon — The meeting room was packed as residents waited to hear how Vernon’s budget could be balanced. Some township employees were more aware of certain “budget cuts” than those outside of municipal goings-on. That is until Police Chief Roy Wherry made his comment: “A reduction in the current personnel would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.” A recommendation that 10 municipal employees, including police officers, be let go, is one of the methods the township is planning to rein in its budget. (See story on page one.) Vernon’s proposed $22.5 million budget for 2010 is up just 2.4 percent over the current budget. It was presented by Acting Township Manager Robin Kline, along with Robert Benecke of Benecke Economics. Vernon hired the Moonachie based firm to help prepare the 2010 budget. Benecke has been performing this kind of service for 33 years. The 2010 budget is slated to be introduced during the first week of April, with adoption possible in early June. With layoffs looming, and a budget in need of tightening, a still unknown factor is the amount of state aid Vernon can count on. Gov. Chris Christie is expected to make an announcement on this during his State Budget Address on March 16. “Christie is taking aggressive steps,” Kline commented. Last year Vernon received $2.8 million in state aid. This year’s proposed budget was prepared with that figure in mind. Kline proposed a special budget work session for March 18 after the governor’s address so that they can reconvene “to fully understand what that means for Vernon Township.” As the township’s management and finance offices worked to prepare the budget, they have so far cut $1.5 million in expenses, by going department by department, Kline said. “Departments are at their bare bones budget.”