Twp. Committee Denies New Fire Truck, Ambulance in 2011 Budget

The Washington Township Committee got into the difficult portion of budget season at its special meeting on Tuesday night at the , as the committee began to make cuts to its $16 million 2011 budget.

The committee’s budget savings came into Tuesday night’s meeting sitting at a 2.58 percent tax levy, which was 0.58 percent above the allowed maximum state cap to raise taxes. As has been the case throughout the budget process, it was apparent to the committee that more cuts needed to be made.

Among the major items cut from the budget was the Long Valley Fire Company’s to replace Engine 1-1. The engine, which is about 20 years old, is due for replacement; however, a brand new engine would cost the township $450,000.

“I would love to buy a new truck, but this is not the year to buy a new truck,” said Washington Township Mayor Ken Short. “It’s pretty much a utility vehicle that’s used quite often. It’s working, it’s functioning, but until economic times change we’ll just have to polish it up.”

Also denied from being a part of the 2011 budget was the Long Valley First Aid Squad’s , which would have replaced the group’s Ambulance 38-53. The aging unit broke down on multiple occasions in the middle of emergency calls in 2010. However, the committee hopes that a repaired transmission—with an 18-month guarantee—will be enough to get the vehicle through the year.

“Other than (the transmission), it’s performed very well,” said Mayor Short. “(A new ambulance) is nice to have, but I don’t think that we need it this year.”

The committee is also looking to make some cuts as a means of saving money, as well. For example, the expense of narrow-banding for fire and EMS dispatch communications, as well as the cost of the fire company’s request UHF repair improvements for the department’s radio system, would be eliminated from the budget if Washington Township enrolls and is accepted into Morris County’s dispatch system.

The county’s system, which already has 22 of Morris County’s 39 municipalities enrolled, would cost less for the county than it would for Washington Township to provide the upgrades itself, according to Mayor Short. The county’s system would include personnel, equipment, and maintenance changes, and would allow the county to be in charge of the township’s dispatching.

If enrolled, Washington Township could be ready to enter the county’s system by September or October.

After Tuesday night’s meeting, the committee is still faced with having to make about $100,000 more of budget cuts before the township will be under the 2% cap. That could mean cutting costs relating to something as seemingly inconsequential as supplies, but it also could mean eliminating certain township employee positions if matters become more urgent.

“If we’re not at a point where we can cut supplies, we’re getting to a point where we’re gonna have to cut some employees,” said committee member Jim LiaBraaten. “We’re gonna have to talk about where we can reduce our staff. We should be prepared to do that.”

Other committee members, such as township Vice Mayor Jim Harmon, had different feelings on the issue.

“If we’re within $100,000 in a $16 million budget, I’m not too sure we’re in that bad of shape,” said Harmon. “We’ve already cut staff; I don’t see any place to cut staff anywhere in this town. That’s really not an option for us, though it may be a logical place to go.”

The committee will meet again at the Washington Township Senior Citizen Center to discuss budget matters on Wednesday, March 23. The meeting is expected to start at 6:30 p.m.