Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, April 6, 2006 OUR 116th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 14-2006 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Taxes Going Up $1.4 Million Or 8.3 Percent In 2006 Budget By PAUL J. PEYTON police and fire pensions, 105.4 per- $550,000 next year and $950,000 in Specially Written for The Westfield Leader cent, or $393,000; Rahway Valley 2008. RVSA is in the midst of a multi- Town officials unveiled a Sewerage Authority, 18.8 percent, or million dollar mandatory upgrade. $33,896,440 municipal budget Tues- $315,000, and group insurance, 9.2 “The finance committee has day night that represents a 4.7 per- percent, or $299,000 over last year. worked extremely hard during the cent, or $1,526,935, increase over Utilities costs, mostly gasoline and months of February and March to last year. The municipal portion of diesel fuel, are up $90,000, or 16.8 come up with a consensus recom- property taxes is going up $1,433,795, percent. mendation,” Councilman Echausse or 8.3 percent, to $19,019,140. Mr. Gildea noted that operational said. Town Administrator Jim Gildea expenses have been reduced 2 per- In terms of revenue, he said state said the owner of a home assessed at cent, or $89,260, this year through aid, at $4.5 million, is flat for the $179,600 will see a $140 increase the elimination of five full-time posi- fourth year in a row. In addition, he over last year to support municipal tions. The committee achieved the said the state is taking a larger portion services. The budget is up 7.46 points, cuts through three retirements or res- of municipal fines. In addition, he with a point equaling $180,000 in ignations and the downgrading of two said last year’s defeat of the school spending, or $20 for the average ho- more positions from full-to part-time budget, impacted on the municipal meowner, he said. The budget will be status. Reduced office costs and capi- budget surplus. The surplus used in formally introduced on Tuesday, April tal purchases also helped lower costs. the budget has dropped this year, $4 18. The town has opted not to hire a million out of a total of $4.7 million, First Ward Councilman and Finance human resources director, which was is down by $305,000. Committee Chairman Peter Echausse approved in last year’s budget. The Mr. Gildea said the town’s surplus said the so-called “budget busters” new position will be considered again equates to two tax points. A tax point account for 95 percent of the total tax in 2007. Councilman Echausse said equals $180,000 in total spending, or hike this year. These statutory ex- funding is provided to hire a town $20, for the average homeowner, he Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader penses are up 14.6 percent, Mr. Gildea planner. said. IN COUNTRY’S SERVICE...Company B and C of the 250th Signal Battalion of the New Jersey National Guard, upon said. These include non-discretion- Councilman Echausse described Property taxes account for 56 per- completing their tour of duty in Iraq and arriving home, are attentive to the praise received from family and state leaders ary hikes for the municipal library, 11 the RVSA budget allotment, which cent of revenue in the proposed 2006 last Saturday at the Westfield Armory. percent, or $205,468, over 2005; Pub- totals $1.9 million this year, as the budget followed by miscellaneous lic Employees Retirement System town’s “800 pound gorilla.” He said revenue, 16 percent, or $5.5 million; (PERS), 138.6 percent, or $58,200; the town will have to pay increases of surplus or fund balance, $4 million, WF BOE Candidates Discuss Redistricting, or 11.80 percent, delinquent taxes, $850,000, or 2.51 percent; and grants, $59,866, or .18 percent. Free Speech And WHS Principal Search On the spending side of the budget, By MEGHAN GILL ating overcrowding at Roosevelt In- ciples of free-speech and open- salaries and wages, which are up Specially Written for The Westfield Leader termediate School. mindedness at the high school, as $461,728, or 2.9 percent, represent WESTFIELD — The Parent- “I hope that we get a solution,” well as the criteria for hiring a re- 47.8 percent, or $16.2 million; statu- Teacher Council sponsored a “Meet said Ms. Cassie, chair of the board’s placement for WHS Principal Dr. tory expenses equal 29.3 percent, or the Candidates” event last Wednes- long-range planning committee and Robert Petix. All of the candidates $9.9 million, and operating expenses day evening featuring the five candi- the Citizens Advisory Committee agreed that free speech is essential at account for 12.9 percent, or $4.4 mil- dates running for the Westfield Board on Enrollment (CACE). She indi- the high school level. lion. Debt service is $1.3 million, or of Education. cated the board will have to con- “(These are) tough shoes to fill,” 3.9 percent of the budget, according The hour-long question and an- sider redistricting. CACE will be Mr.Stokes said regarding the hiring to the budget report. swer session, moderated by the presenting their report to the board of a new principal. “We need to create Salary and wages for municipal Westfield Area League of Women at the end of April. a climate supportive of students, par- employees are up $461,728, or 2.9 Voters, was held at the Westfield High Ms. Clancy said, “Overcrowding is ents and the athletic program,” he percent, over 2005, operating ex- School auditorium. a problem, but we are not talking continued. Courtesy of Westfield Firefighter Brian Dunlap penses account for 12.9 percent, or The five panelists, Douglas about numbers, we are talking about Ms. Riegel said the survey is avail- FIVE-HOUR BATTLE...Westfield and five other area fire departments battle the $4.4 million Stokes, Beth Cassie, Jesse children.” She said she prefers the able to the public and that the board inferno on Pennsylvania Avenue Tuesday afternoon that completely destroyed the Mayor Andy Skibitsky said he Garfinkel, Jane Clancy and Anne idea of voluntary rather than manda- would be hosting a meeting to dis- split-level home. There were no injuries, and the owner is vacationing in Florida. asked the finance committee “to look Riegel, are competing for three seats tory redistricting. She explained that cuss the screening process at the high at the budget as carefully as possible.” available for three-year terms. Mrs. the CACE, which she is a member of, school. “(We are looking) for a per- “I think this is a very good budget,” he Cassie and Mrs. Riegel are incum- is discussing options. son who is outstanding, who has vi- Garwood School Tax Levy said. “Our state aid is flat, that is actually bents, while Mr. Stokes, Mr. Mr. Garfinkel, a WHS Senior, said sion, and understanding of technol- an increase to us. When the state takes Garfinkel, and Ms. Clancy are chal- the board needs to address this prob- ogy and best practices, someone like more of our municipal fines, that’s an lengers. lem with both long- and short-term Dr. Petix,” she stated. Drops $87,075 to $5.2 Mil. increase to us,” Mayor Skibitsky said. First Ward Councilman Sal Caruana, a Each candidate commenced the solutions. He said redistricting is the The panel was asked about the is- By MARIA WOEHR budget to be returned to the public, question-and-answer-session by giv- best short-term solution, since both sues surrounding the budget, and if Specially Written for The Westfield Leader member of the finance committee, said the BOE couldn’t set aside money as the committee “looked under every rock, ing one-minute statements about their schools have “terrific teachers.” He they have any solutions. The consen- GARWOOD — The Garwood surplus for future years. turned over every stone and did every- candidacies, the important issues and also noted that this would enhance sus was that board members need to Board of Education last Wednesday “It is wonderful that taxes won’t thing we possibly could,” noting the com- attributes they can bring to the board. the experience of students and make consider the needs of the entire com- unanimously approved a $7,408,099 increase this coming year,” said resi- mittee and town officials “didn’t freeze Bonnie Ruggiero, a Scotch Plains new friends. munity. Ms. Clancy pointed out that, budget for the 2006-2007 school year. dent Bruce Paterson. “But I’m al- the operating expenses from 2005; in resident from the League of Women Mr. Stokes, a four-year resident of “60 percent of (Westfield) taxpayers The proposed $5,240,944 tax levy ways thinking ahead. The surplus many cases, we went below 2004 levels.” Voters, posed five questions to the Westfield and father of four children, do not have school–aged children.” would result in a $13 decrease for the looks very high because of the de- He said Westfield is a town “that lacks panelists. These questions were re- said, “the key is not to over- Ms. Cassie explained, “There is a average assessed borough home. regionalization and that creates ques- industry and an important ability for our ceived from members of the Westfield react…Let’s wait until we hear the limit to what we can ask for of the Officials said the budget for the tions concerning taxes later on.” tax base to change or grow.” community.