HomeMy Public PortalAbout1999/05/17
A Special Meeting of the Mayor and Council ofthe Borough ofCarteret
was called to order by Mayor James A. Failace at 8:00 P.M ., on Monday,
May 17, 1999 at the Municipal Court/Police Facility, 230 Roosevelt
Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey
Upon individual roll call, the following were noted present:
Councilmember
Patrick Crilley
Jack Fazekas
Stanley Gutowski
James Mancuso
James O'Brien
Remy M. Quinones
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Noted absent was Borough Attorney Craig 1. Coughlin
Also noted present was Borough Auditor Gary Higgins.
The Assistant Clerk stated that on May 13, 1999, in full compliance with
the Open Public Meetings Act, a notice of tonight's meeting was sent to
The Home News Tribune, The Star Ledger and posted on the bulletin
board
The purpose of this meeting was to take formal action on the School
Board Budget.
Mayor Failace asked the Assistant Clerk to read the resolution in full.
RESOLUTION #99-168
CERTIFICATION OF TAX LEVY
WHEREAS, the district tax levy for the General Fund portion of the
1999/00 budget of the Board of Education of the Borough ofCarteret in
the amount of$16,891,773 was defeated by the voters of the Borough of
Carteret at the annual school election held on April 20, 1999; and
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WHEREAS, pursuant to NJ.SA 18A22-37, the Municipal Council did
receive the proposed school budget and has consulted with the local
Board of Education on May 10, 1999 to discuss the proposed 1999/00
school budget; and
MAY 17, 1999
SPECIAL MEETING
ROLL CALL
STATEMENT OF
MEETING NOTICE
PURPOSE
RESOLUTION #99-168
Cetification of
Tax Levy
MAY 17, 1999
RESOLUTION #99-168
Continued
Certification of
Tax Levy
Borough Auditor
Gary Higgins
WHEREAS, the Municipal Council did review said 1999/00 budget with the
recommendations and justifications for the reduction in the amount of
$1,131,726 in the General Fund budget tax levy for 1999/00 as detailed on
Appendix "A"
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipal Council of the
Borough of Carteret does hereby certify to the Middlesex County Board of
Taxation, that the amount necessary to be levied for the General Fund budget
to provide a thorough and efficient education for the Borough of Carteret
School District for the school year 1999/00 is $15,760.047.
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED that the amount to be levied for debt service
certified to the Middlesex County Board of Taxation shall be $492,339 for the
school year 1999/00.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this resolution shall
be forwarded forthwith to the Middlesex County Board of Taxation, the
Middlesex County Superintendent of Schools, the Carteret Board of
Education and the Tax Assessor of the Borough ofCarteret.
Mayor Failace asked Gary Higgins, Borough Auditor, to go over the
adjustments on the appendix
Mr Higgins said on the appendix there is one additional revenue increase they
are requesting to be amended to the budget and that is the increase in the
unrestricted miscellaneous revenues by $31,000. After a thorough review of
the budget by his statr and the Mayor and Council, they have come to the
conclusion there are 12 line item appropriations that can be reduced totaling
$1,131,726 It should be noted that 19 new positions set forth in the budget
presented to the taxpayers, have not been reduced. 19 positions including 13
teachers still stand. There are some adjustments to two teacher line items and
the reason it is adjusted is the ditrerence between a retiring employee and a
new salary This took place after the budget was presented to the voters, last
week. It does not eliminate a position. There were substantial increases in
supplies, tuition other purchase services, general supplies for the operation of
the plant and transportation services, which the Council felt was excessive
with respect of the anlount of the increase compared to the 1998/99 Projected
or the 1998/99 actual budget.
The final item that makes up approximately 35% of the appropriation cuts is
the reduction of$300,706 for the Primary Learning Center There is already
$l,600,OOO available from state funds that the district has in the bank and in
the budget at this point. The Council felt that it wouldn't be pmdent to
budget $300,000 this year when the asset hasn't even been bid upon. There
are other financing options available, such as a referendum which would result
in the sale of bonds or the sale of certificates of participation, or what is
known as a Lease-Purchase Typically, when an asset is financed, you pay for
it over the litè of the asset You do not start prepaying before you put a
shovel in the ground. That is why they took the approach to eliminate that 2
appropriation in the amount of $300,000.
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Mr. Higgisn said the tax levy on the Fiscal Year Budget from 98 to 99 as
compared to 99 to 2000, after this resolution is acted upon will only
increase $114,639.00 which is a little over 1 tax point as compared to
when they came into this and they were up approximately 12 - 13 tax
points. It's a significant reduction, however, after working with the
Mayor and Council on this, he didn't think in anyway it impacts a
thorough and efficient education in the Borough's schools in the coming
year
Upon MMS&C, by Coum:ilmembers Gutowski and O'Brien and
unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council present, the meeting was
opened for public input on Resolution #99-268.
There being no public input on Resolution #99-168, upon MMS&C, by
Councilmembers Mancuso and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote
of the full Council present, the meeting was closed.
RESOLUTION # 99-268 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred
to the Council for action.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Fazekas and Mancuso
RESOLUTION #99-268
"CERTIFICATION OF TAX LEVY"
was adopted. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Crilley, Fazekas,
Gutowski, Mancuso, O'Brien and Quinones voted in the affirmative
Councilmember Crilley said the budget process that they used this year
reflects a lot of work and diligence on the Borough Auditor's part. He
thanked the various people who worked on this. He said they get
criticized quite often about what they spend on consultant fees and
services. They just save $1.1 Million dollars in their diligence and they did
not cut a single program in the school systems. They have allowed the
School District to expand and put in money for contingency and other
program hat they have They have allowed them salary funds above what
they allowed in the borough They allowed them to continùe to try and
improve the District any way they can. The School Board gave them a list
of the things they want to do and gave them rationales for them. Anything
they gave the Council, they left alone. They did not cut one item on the
rationales.
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MAY 17, 1999
Borough Auditor
Gary Higgins
Continued
MEETING OPENED:
Public Input
On Resolution
MEETING CLOSED
RESOLUTION #99-268
Certification of
Tax Levy
Re: School Board
Adopted
Corrments
tlAY 17, 1999
Cürrments
Continued
Councilmember Crilley said as Mr Higgins mentioned it went up by
$114,639, but when the debt service is included it went down $114,639 The
tax bill for the School Board will be down by $114,639. The voters only get
to vote on the standard budget item. Last year it was $15,645,000. This year
it's $15,760,000. Last year there was a debt service amount of $720,000.
Because of the School Board's diligence in refinancing and taking advantage
of the low rates and additional state aid, the debt service is now $492,000.
The combined levy to the taxpayer is $]6,252,386, down $114,000 from last
year He voted yes.
Mayor Failace thanked Gary Higgins and his statr. He appreciates all the
work that they did. He also thanked the Council. They did not atrect one
educational program that the Board asked for They adjusted what they
thought was excessive. He thought it was a good cut, it's good for the
citizens and they haven't hurt the children of Carteret.
ADJOURNED
There being no further business or discussion, upon MMS&C, by
Councilmembers Gutowski and O'Brien and unanimous affirmative vote of the
full Council present, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:16 P.M.
{;:::~~~L
SUSAN E. JA L ,
Assistant Municipa lerk
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