Officials revamp budget, lower proposed tax hike BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer HOLMDEL - A new proposed municipal budget would come with a 1.29-cent tax rate increase. The Township Committee voted 3-1 to introduce the proposed tax increase on Thursday. Committeeman Terence Wall cast the lone no vote and Committeeman Rocco Pascucci was absent. A June 21 public hearing and vote on its adoption is planned. "I made a promise of a zero-increase budget," Wall said during the budget vote. "I also made that promise, but in the interest of moving this along, I'll vote yes," Mayor Serena DiMaso said. Wall and DiMaso faced off last week in the Republican primary. Both found out the election's final numbers just prior to meeting. Wall, who lost the three-way contest to DiMaso and Jerry Allocco, said the above exchange between himself and DiMaso "crystallized" his feelings about losing the election. "It was a key moment of value for me," Wall said the following day. "It was a tremendous feeling of completely being at ease with the result, knowing deeply that I was precisely accurate in my assessment of [her]." The new proposed budget includes $650,000 taken from surplus earmarked for the sewer utility budget. Committeeman Larry Fink said it was unfair to half of the residents of Holmdel to consistently rely on the sewer surplus. Only half the residents pay into the sewer utility, he noted. "I think a modest reduction at least would be in order," Fink said, suggesting a cut of at least $10 a quarter. Although Wall seconded the motion, the measure failed. Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman and DiMaso expressed concern that it would not be a good time to lower the rate, considering they just borrowed their entire surplus. Fink then proposed allowing the township's chief financial officer to prepare a cost analysis of reducing the sewer rate. This idea was agreed to by all. But Fink, a Democrat, also had a statement to make about the GOP primary. Fink brought up the mayor's recent campaign tactics, namely a recorded telephone message that he believed was inappropriate, and listed the subject on the agenda as a discussion about "contact with residents." "It had the flavor of representing the five of us," Fink said of the message, adding he did not know about it until he heard it on his answering machine. Fink said the recording "seemed like a political message as well but there was no 'paid for by' message." Also, it was not clearly identified as a political ad, as defined under the state's election laws. DiMaso agreed that in the future, she would abide by these rules. "I paid for it myself on my American Express card," DiMaso said. "I'll give [the receipt] to you myself if it makes you happy." DiMaso noted that the recording was only sent to the homes of registered Republicans, and joked that therefore Fink's wife "must be on the list."