Opening Hazlet swim club not fiscally responsible

Determined to practice fiscal responsibility, the Hazlet Township Committee recently tried to stop a substantial waste of taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, a special interest group successfully lobbied against the committee's effort.

The Hazlet Swim and Tennis Club operates as a utility. Under state law, utilities must be self-supporting. Membership fees and sources other than township tax money are supposed to cover the costs of operation. During the last three years, the township has paid an average of $90,000 per season to balance the swim club's budget and, last month, the Township Committee voted to shut it down.

In response to subsequent complaints from potential swim club members, the Township Committee announced a compromise: if 250 families sign up for membership before May 25, the club would remain open for the 2006 season. However, this solution would not solve the problem. At the current rate of $385 per family, 250 memberships add up to less than $100,000 in membership fees, leaving a substantial shortfall from the average of $360,000 the club needs in order to operate for one season.

Most Hazlet residents do not use the swim club; otherwise, the membership fees would balance the budget, this utility would not need illegitimate taxpayer support, and there would be no problem.

Continuing to provide a service for which the community has little need is fiscally irresponsible. Hazlet could use those resources to manage quality-of-life issues that are more germane to the interests of the majority of its current residents. Our Township Committee has a responsibility to make decisions that will benefit all of Hazlet's residents, not just the ones with membership cards.

Rich Kohler

Hazlet