Mayor Stephen Acropolis and the Township Council plan on giving voters the opportunity to decide how services will be provided by the municipality in the future by placing referendum questions on this November’s ballot.  The questions will ask voters opinions on services ranging from police and public safety to solid waste collection.

“It was a challenge to put together a budget that fit within the state’s budgetary and tax levy caps while not cutting services this year,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “This is likely not going to be possible moving forward.  The caps are going to be more restrictive next year and costs to provide services are going to continue to rise.  We are going to ask the people how they want services delivered and how they want to pay for them.”

The Township Administration is going to work with the Township Council and legal counsel to develop non-binding referendum questions for this November’s ballot.  The questions will ask voters opinion on various Township services and funding levels for those services.  The questions are going to be a continuation of the administration and council’s efforts to transform the local government in Brick Township.

“We have been working to move Brick Township to a more user-based system of governance.  People who use services, programs and facilities should shoulder a larger burden of the cost of them than those who do not use them,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “These ballot questions will give the public their chance to weigh in and let us know if they want us to continue to change the way the township does business.”

“We are going through tough economic times.  It is happening in communities throughout the State,” said Council President Anthony Matthews.  “We are going to have to face this as an entire community and get through it together.  Having it placed on the ballot will let the people know what is going on and have their say.  We are going to involve the public in this just like we have been doing since 2004.”

The referendum questions are being placed on the ballot to give the Mayor and Council a clearer idea of what services that the voters deem essential and how they want those services to be funded through taxation or other means, such as user-based fees.  Voters will be asked their opinion on topics such as whether or not the Township should maintain municipal garbage collection or use a private service.

“We are going to give the people the chance to effect change in municipal government,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “They are going to have the opportunity to set the standard for reform in New Jersey.”

Mayor Acropolis says that State mandated tax levy and spending caps are necessitating this reform.  “Our leaders in Trenton, most notably Governor Christie, are working to bring change to New Jersey and make it more affordable.  We are working to follow his lead and make Brick Township more affordable through institutional changes.”  Mayor Acropolis cites staff reduction and health care contributions as initiatives that will have permanent impacts on municipal spending.

Municipal governments currently operate under a 4% tax levy cap.  The state legislature recently approved a 2.9% tax levy cap and Governor Christie is proposing a constitutionally mandated 2.5% tax levy cap with no exemptions.

“This Council has been cutting for years.  We have worked with the Mayor to reduce the size of our staff and rein in municipal spending while not affecting services.  It is becoming more likely that we are going to have to affect services in the future,” said Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro, Chairwoman of the Business and Finance Committee.  “We are going to ask the people what they are willing to pay for and what they are willing to give up as a community.  Since the people are going to be affected, we are going to let them have their say.”

In order to have the questions placed on this November’s ballot, the Township Council must pass a resolution at the August 10^th Council Meeting.  The questions must be submitted to the County Clerk no later than August 20.

The Township will seek the input of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee while drafting the referendum questions.  “Our Citizens Budget Advisory Committee members have put in a great deal of time learning about our budget and the issues that are impacting it,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “They know what is going on and we are going to ask them to help us as we move forward with these questions and represent the community’s point of view.”