dfx
Junior Member
Posts: 221
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Post by dfx on Oct 20, 2010 8:11:19 GMT -5
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BrianSullivan
Full Member
Good ideas never cross burned bridges. Practice unity in our community
Posts: 1,041
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Post by BrianSullivan on Oct 21, 2010 6:05:15 GMT -5
I agree, this is good news. I have mentioned many times over the years of this site that this town is not bad off with its fiscal practices. Compared to other towns in Monmouth county, we really get a bang for our buck. Of course, the municipal model in NJ as a whole is not doing well, but in context of that, Freehold is doing well.
Of course, the big question now is, will the state deliver the promised aid? I also wonder, what happens if we do not get what we expect?
A couple of things jumped out at me in the article.
According to the DCA, if a municipality has between 76 and 88 yes answers, it will receive 100 percent of its promised state aid; 61-75 yes answers will net 99 percent of promised state aid; 46-60 yes answers will net 98 percent of promised state aid; 31-45 yes answers will net 97 percent of promised state aid; 16-30 yes answers will net 96 percent of promised state aid; and 0- 15 yes answers will net 95 percent of proposed state aid.
After reading the above, it is a bit disturbing that a municipality really does not have much incentive to be responsible. Even a town that answers with very few "yes" answers is promised 95 percent of the aid. That should be changed to challenge towns a bit more.
Bellina cited one question that asked, “Was a multi-year budget history and projection showing three years of history and two years of projections proposed in a ‘viewer friendly’ style for public use?”
Bellina said that type of presentation had never been required of municipalities.
Another question asked if “the budget presentation presented the percentage increases in line items from highest to lowest.”
Again, Bellina said that had never been a requirement.
Bellina is a smart guy who does a good job, but I have to point out that the town should not be doing things just because they are required, but because they are right to begin with.
A viewer friendly style for public use is a no brainer. That is simply good customer service and in this case, the government serving the people as they should.
I think some of the open government initiatives that the council has been warm to will help out in these areas. I really look forward to the budget review committee, that will be a very big help for the town. Its all good, a town doing well will only be getting better.
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