A
Message from the Mayor
This year has presented the most difficult
budget season in recent history. I support the steps the Governor has taken to reduce the
budget deficit and trying to right the wayward course State government has taken over the
last decade. On the local level we feel the pain of these unparalleled budget reductions
most acutely.
The loss of $1.9 million in State Aid
represents a 25% reduction in this revenue. The term State Aid is a misnomer as the
funds received from the State are a replacement for funds originally collected by the
municipality from utilities, business personal property taxes, financial business taxes
and railroad taxes among others. Years ago these revenues were given directly to each
municipality. The State changed this formula by accepting the funds on behalf of the towns
and redistributing it in the form of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Act and
Energy Tax Receipts. Bridgewater has never been the recipient of true aid either in the
form of ‘extraordinary’ or ‘special’ as have other municipalities.
In order to balance this loss we have taken
steps to reduce our payroll through attrition and layoffs and negotiated a wage freeze
with the majority of our employees. In addition we have reduced expenses and programs
throughout the Township, thus I presented the Council with a budget that is $1.15 million
less than last year.
Unfortunately there will be some programs we
can no longer provide due to cost cutting such as the bulky trash drop off. Check with
your trash hauler as several companies that service Bridgewater residents will remove
bulky trash from your curbside, free of charge. Most haulers charge a nominal fee for
removal of bulky trash. For a current list of trash haulers servicing Bridgewater please
contact the Township CFO at 725-6300 x5100.
I would like to pass on my appreciation to
the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the recent ceremony
conducted at the Bridgewater Commons Mall. At this event local war veterans from all
conflicts dating back to World War II through the present were honored for their service
to our Country. This event was meant not only to honor our veterans and thank them but to
help inform them of the many services and programs that are provided through the Office of
Military and Veterans Affairs. If you know of anyone who has served in the military in
need of assistance of any kind please refer them to this office at 732-937-6347 or their
website at www.state.nj.us/military and they will be glad to assist.
Each household has received a census
questionnaire asking for information. It is important to take a few minutes and answer the
survey as Federal dollars are based on the population of a community. Let’s be sure
we get our share of our federal tax dollars returned to Bridgewater! In addition we can
all help save money by filling out and
returning the survey to avoid the costly expense of having a census worker follow-up with
those households that have not responded. If you have any questions regarding the 2010
census please visit our website and click on the link to Census 2010 for information.
Please do your part by completing the Census and sending it in.
The most recent storms serve as a reminder that in a
serious weather event our police, fire, rescue and public works personnel are here to
assist. If you require non-emergent assistance from municipal government you can call us
at 908-722-4111 and press 8, during non business hours. These calls are answered by our
dispatchers who may be handling emergency situations at the same time. Please be concise
and have the details of your concern ready for their assistance when they come on the
line. They will notify the appropriate department of your need.
We are continuing our efforts to raise funds through
private donations to finance the construction of a wonderful monument depicting
Bridgewater history at the municipal complex. The monument, designed as a semi-circular
granite wall which will depict various highlights in Bridgewater’s 250-year history,
will serve as a gathering place and focal point for the newly renovated municipal complex.
To date our fundraising efforts for the monument have been proceeding nicely and we have
raised over $40,000 towards the total $100,000 project. It is our goal to complete
fundraising by this summer. This includes large and small donations, from individuals to
corporate sponsors. If you care about preserving our history and enhancing your own public
facilities by contributing to this effort, please see our website (www.bridgewaternj.gov)
for details and donation opportunities.
