Council Approves Capital Budget

The Township Council approved a capital budget Monday for the upcoming year that will allow it to borrow money for a dump truck, computer software and the road pavement management program.

The budget was approved 4-1, with Councilman James Wendell casting the lone vote.

“Given the difficult economic times, I don’t think we should appropriate $1 million for road improvements,” said Wendell.

Wendell said many of the roads slated for improvements can be put off for a year and that he’d rather not see the township take on additional debt. However, township officials said that if some of the roads are not repaired this year, their conditions could worsen and the cost to repair them would increase.

 The Capital budget is separate from a $55.980 million municipal spending plan Mayor David Stahl presented several weeks ago. The Capital budget lists items that the township would like to buy and approving the plan allows East Brunswick the ability to borrow the money needed for those items.

In addition, the township anticipates retiring $2.84 million in debt for the upcoming year, while incurring an additional $2.30 million.

Finance Department Head L. Mason Neely said the budget has little to do with the township tax rate because the amount is already built into the budget. He also said approving the budget does not mean the money will be automatically spent, but gives the council flexibility when it comes time to approve the projects.

At its next Township Council meeting, council members will consider a resolution lowering the amount for road improvements from $1 million to $750,000.

The capital budget includes a software update for $100,000; a dump truck for $160,000; $60,000 for a mower;  $7,000 for a floor buffer; $10,000 for a truck body (water utility vehicle); $80,000 to replace 23-year-old car lifts at the Public Works Department; $138,000 for a backhoe; $250,500 to provide drainage on Federal Road; $1 million for the pavement management program; $10,000 for a new roof on the Daisy Building; $250,000 to re-line Rues Lane/Landsdowne Road; $200,000 to rebuild public safety computer workstations and laptops; and $120,000 to replace four patrol cars.

Of that, the township will borrow $95,000 for the software update; $152,000 for the dump truck; $57,000 for the mower; $75,000 for the car lifts; $130,000 for the back hoe; $238,000 for the drainage work; $950,000 for the pavement management program; and $100,000 for the rebuilt computer workstations.

The Capital Budget is separate from a $55.980 million municipal spending plan Mayor Stahl presented several weeks ago. That budget reduces spending by 1.2 percent, but calls for a tax increase due to a loss in revenue.