Newspaper article missed the intricacies behind the budget

To the Editor: The intricacies of government budgets in New Jersey are many and to write a news article on budgeting is not an easy task. That being said, due to the many comments I have received on the April 6th article on the Byram Township budget, I feel it necessary to clarify some possibly overstated and/or under clarified budget changes for ‘06. Our township manager with input from his department heads and chief financial officer along with our auditor brought a budget with modest increases before the council in work session. We scrutinized the work, made some suggestions for modifications and the budget was prepared for public presentation. As always, the Council’s goal is to provide necessary services while keeping the cost of such services in line with current economic conditions. We are all taxpayers and have many of the same financial issues as our constituents. Since our budgets have had very little flexibility, the manager and CFO do not ‘ballpark’ anything. For example, last year due to the Spring retirement of the former chief of police, we only had to budget for a partial chief’s salary. This year, after completing the competitive promotion process, we now have a new chief of police for a full year. Thus, last year there was a savings passed on to the taxpayers and this year we go back to a full chief’s salary. By filling the vacant police position at the police officer level, first step, last August, there were again savings. The difference between an across the board increase close to the cost of living and the 9.57 percent you reported doesn’t take into account the savings last year and thus the ‘inflated’ increase this year. The fact is, the newly appointed chief of police is not being paid the same salary as his predecessor. Your report also doesn’t take into consideration the state mandated purchase of new breath testing equipment at $13,085 or the increase in fuel costs for our emergency services and public works.  Employee salaries are still in negotiations and will not be finalized before the budget comes for public hearing. A fair settlement of contract negotiations is anticipated as has been the experience for over three decades for the township employee unions. Your reference to the ‘free health benefits’ to all employees is also inaccurate. The employees earn their health benefits, they are not ‘free’. Public sector salaries have always lagged behind those in business and continue to do so. Comprehensive health benefits have always been a means to attract and retain good public employees, especially in times when the disparity between public employee salaries and those in business was greater. As the cost of health benefits have increased, governments are looking for a buy-in by the employees and Byram is doing the same. A budget is a dynamic document with cost savings being sought cooperatively at all times by everyone. Incentives are made available for employees to assist in saving tax dollars. Thank you for your continuing efforts to cover our great community. Eskil S. Danielson Mayor Byram Township