Budget Proposal Discussed Union County
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Union County budget proposal discussed By Peter Fiorilla As proposed, that would be the largest tax increase for experienced a record 9 credit downgrades since 2009.” Part Staff Writer Union County since 2013, when the county tax bill went up of that is because of increased revenues, he added, and the A $508 million budget for Union County was formally 4.97 percent, but it’s also comparable to 2014 and 2015, success of several profitable agencies run by Union County. introduced by county manager Al Faella at a freeholder when taxes went up by 3 percent and 2.51 percent, respec Last year, a strong real estate market led to more than $1 meeting on Thursday, Feb. 18, at the freeholders’ head tively. Since 2001, in comparison, annual budgets in Union million in transfer fees going to the county; the Union quarters in Elizabeth, and the proposal — if approved in the County have increased taxes by an average of 7.76 percent, County regional dispatch unit took in more than $386,000 next several months — would be a 3.25 percent increase making the past few years a low point. in revenue; the county’s Parks Department garnered more over last year’s budget of $492 million. One of the benefits of these reigned in budgets, Faella than $6.4 million in revenues — an increase of $183,000, “Just as a reminder: this is not the final budget, but a said at the meeting, is how they allow the county to keep a thanks to profits which Faella said were the result of a golf starting point, which can be reviewed and amended as nec surplus handy, which supports the government’s bond rat ing initiative — and the Union County Emergency Medical essary by the fiscal committee and the freeholder board, ing. The 2016 budget anticipates adding to the existing sur Services group brought in more than $1 million, an before final adoption sometime later this spring,” said Fael plus by $22.5 million. increase of 46.8 percent, year over year. la, as he outlined the highlights of the 2016 budget. “This “As our county financial position has improved over the Other prominent sources of revenue listed in the budget year’s executive budget is a demonstration of the county’s past few years, we’ve continued to build surplus. Over the included a $35 million grant from the New Jersey Division continued economic growth, and the success of our sound past year alone, we’ve boosted our surplus by 77 percent, of Economic Assistance, about $4.5 million in open space management and budgeting practices, as validated by our from $31 to $55 million,” said Faella. “This increase is vital debt service, and $38 million in medical costs which will be most recent determination of a AA bond rating.” in maintaining our bond rating, which is among the highest assumed by the state, according to the 366-page budget, For residents across the county, the 2016 executive available.” which is available on the county’s website. budget will increase the amount of taxes collected to $346 The county has been able to support a relatively high Funds from these sources, and others, are being fun- million, up from the 2015 number of from $335 million, bond rating, said Faella, during a time when there has been neled back into several major community health initiatives which is a difference of 3.25 percent. “fiscal turbulence in the state of New Jersey, which has See BUDGET, Page 5 Linden ROTC helps students, community By Peter Fiorilla Staff Writer When a sign-up sheet for community service is posted in the The Academy, located right across the street from Linden High School, there isn’t much time before it’s been filled out by hundreds of high school-aged cadets, squad leaders and others who make up the district’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program. There’s almost always a waiting list for the members who want to help others through community service. The ROTC program has too many members, all of them students at Linden High School who opt into ROTC instead of gym, who want to spend their time making Linden a better place however they can, which is what the district envisioned when it ushered in the ROTC in 1986. “When I was president of the board in 1986, when we started the ROTC, a lot of local public schools were putting in the programs,” said Maiyann Dorin, a retired member of the Linden Board of Education. “My first thought was ‘I don’t know,’ it might cause fric tion with students. I went home — my husband Georgejvas in the United States army in World War II, he celebrated his 18th birthday in^PTT.W. camp — and I asked him what he thought. George looked at me and said, .‘Maryann, give them a chance. I think that might be exactly what you need for the school system, putting some confidence and disci Photo by Peter Fiorilla pline in these kids. They’ll be the ones who service the community.’” Linden High School students in a ROTC class at The Academy. There are 400 kids See ROTC, Page 6 in the ROTC program, out of about 1,700 at Linden High School. PATRICIA C. 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Fifth-graders took part in a simu lated mission to the moon and worked in teams to monitor life support, conduct experiments ART SHOW - Clark second-grader Jonah Bencivenga, with Valley Road School and investigations, and imple art teacher Michelle Matesic, points out his circle weaving Jan. 19 at the ment navigation orders. Students Whole Foods Market, Clark, where the school showcased student artwork. used principles of science, math More than 40 pieces of artwork by students in kindergarten through fifth ematics and technology to com grade, ranging from paintings to collages and weavings, were on display. plete their tasks. - Scotch Plains church to host refugees By Peter Fiorilla States shouldn’t admit anyone from Syria — or that, if it does, gov Staff Writer ernment agencies should more strictly regularly who is let in. A church in Scotch Plains is planning to host one or two families In November, more than half of the country’s governors — of Syrian refugees this year, in an attempt to help them find a new almost all of them Republicans — said they opposed letting Syrian home in Union County and escape the devastating conflict that’s refugees into their states, citing potential safety risks. One of the tom apart their home country. suspects believed to be involved in the Paris attacks, one of the The gesture continues a decades-long tradition at Willow Grove most deadly acts of terrorism ever carried out on European soil, Presbyterian Church, which has hosted foreign families displaced had entered Europe in a wave of Syrian refugees. by war since the congregation aided a Vietnamese family in the Leadership at Willow Grove Presbyterian Church is aware of 1970s, according to a statement issued by the church. those concerns, but Cochran-Camey doesn’t believe terrorists are Pediatric Relationships with that family, says pastor Cynthia Cochran- among the refugees being admitted into the country. Carney, are still strong today, and the church hopes to foster a sim “Some people ask, ‘How can you be sure you aren’t harboring ilar connection with five to 10 of the 10,000 Syrians who are being terrorists?’ and the Church World Services director has explained Dentistry admitted into the United States in 2016, a number decided last year the process of bringing refugees here,” said Cochran-Carney. “Part by president Barack Obama’s administration. of what they realize is that the people coming to New Jersey aren’t In order to decide how the church can become a host site, the people we’ve seen on TV.