Fiscal responsibility needed on Twp. Committee

It is disappointing to see that Holmdel’s 2010 municipal budget will increase the property tax on the average homeowner by $135. The current Holmdel Township Committee majority has once more failed the homeowners of Holmdel. This Township Committee leadership (Mayor DiMaso, Deputy Mayor Impreveduto and Committeeman Pascucci) apparently feels that residential taxpayers ought to shield the municipal bureaucracy from the harsh realities of these bad economic times, even as pay cuts, job losses and/or looming foreclosures threaten many of these same residents.

Unfortunately for Holmdel’s taxpayers, the current Township Committee majority refused to start work on the 2010 municipal budget until it was too late to formulate needed contingency plans, such as for coping with Gov. Chris Christie’s promised state spending reductions (which I support). Had alternative plans been established earlier in the year, the recently initiated furlough and staff reduction programs could have begun considerably sooner, thereby saving taxpayers more money.

For the sake of all Holmdel taxpayers, I request Mayor Serena Di- Maso and her majority to do for next year what Committeeman Larry Fink and Committeewoman Janet Berk had urged early last fall — start planning now for the 2011 municipal budget. Do advanced planning for possible further state aid cuts and health insurance or pension cost increases, and have the goal of achieving substantial further reductions in the municipal budget. This budgeting approach should be similar to that used by any prudent family when coping with a breadwinner’s loss of job or other financial setback: distinguish between the essential items and the nice-to-have items, then cut accordingly.

Moody has recently downgraded Holmdel’s bond rating from AA to A due in large part to the imprudent raiding of surplus accounts by Mayor DiMaso and her majority. As one example, a total of over $2 millionwas taken from the sewer utility surplus as a “quick fix” for the 2006 and 2007 municipal budgets. In the following years, this downgrade may likely yield higher borrowing costs for Holmdel and even further property tax increases for debt service alone.

Looking ahead as a Holmdel resident, it appears the high-spending Mayor Serena DiMaso is no longer affordable. Fiscally responsible leadership is urgently needed on the Holmdel Township Committee.

Anthony Cooper

Holmdel