A Look Ahead: Mayors Renew Focus on Finances

Finance was at the top of the list for mayors from around the county during annual addresses during reorganizations over the last week. From calling for more shared services to promising to "do more with less," the local chief executives said tightening budgets will be at the forefront of municipal discussions in 2011.

Here is a round-up of mayoral addresses from around Union County.

Westfield

Mayor Andy Skibitsky used his  on Tuesday to review his five and a half year old administration's fiscal record and express optimism for his community. He said the town will continue his "do more with less" philosophy and called on union leaders to work with his administration on continuing a  for 2011. Skibitsky also said he believes that Westfield's downtown activity and the spirit of the residents helped the town's economy over the past year. - John Celock

Summit

Mayor Jordan Glatt, in his last before his term as mayor ends on Dec. 31, said the state of the city is "healthy." Glatt cited the city's renewed AAA bond rating and the first joint meeting among the governing bodies of Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit to begin discussions on a regional joint dispatch center. But Glatt also proposed a reassessment of our property value, something that has not been done for 16 years. Glatt also encouraged the Council to put differences behind them and work together in 2011. - Heather Collura

Cranford

In his first address as head of local government on New Year's Day, Mayor Daniel Aschenbach stressed the need to face Cranford's problems head-on in 2011 with a "positive attitude" towards finding solutions that will place the town on a "sounder and stronger footing." He added that a lower township surplus and tightened property tax cap will make for a challenging financial year. He added that his goal is "to strike a balance of lower cost of local government and a strong service level." - Michelle Walbaum

Clark

On New Year’s Day at the Clark township reorganization meeting, Mayor Sal Bonaccorso reflected on the town’s accomplishments in 2010, pointing to New Jersey Monthly designating Clark as the 24th Best Place to Live, Bloomberg Businessweek naming Clark the 10th best affordable suburb in the country, L’Oreal’s decision to stay in Clark rather than relocate, approval of the controversial $60 million age-restricted housing complex approved for Terminal Ave. West, and the ability of the town to meet the tough economic year without layoffs or cuts to town services. Bonaccorso acknowledged concerns about increasing costs from the Rahway Valley Sewage Authority, and pledged to continue to work towards moving Clark in a positive direction. - Jessica Remo

Garwood

On Jan. 2 at the Garwood borough reorganization meeting, newly elected Mayor Patricia Quattrocchi spoke about her commitment to face 2011’s many challenges and work with Council to put aside differences and meet the difficult coming budget cycle with the ultimate goal of less tax burden on residents “while still providing the services they deserve and have come to expect.” Quattrocchi stated that she intends to maintain a regular presence at borough hall, encourages residents to contact the governing body with their concerns, and expressed that “it’s going to be a really awesome honor to serve the borough of Garwood as your mayor." - J.R.

Berkeley Heights

Berkeley Heights was sent in a on New Year's Day, courtesy of the swearing in of new Mayor Joseph G. Bruno. Bruno was sworn in at the Township Council's Re-organizational meeting, held in the Berkeley Heights Municipal Court on Saturday, January 1. Bruno's top priority is the budget, saying he hopes to increase revenue in the township. Recently, Berkeley Heights has seen a decrease in commercial rateables and revenue sharing, which has caused some local business to fall on difficult times. While saying it's a tough time to be in government, Bruno is looking to help downtown businesses improve their traffic in order to increase rateables for the township. - Mike Curci

Mountainside

The 2011 Reorganization Meeting of the Mountainside Borough Council was as the mayor, council members and Fire Department and Rescue Squad members were sworn in to their respective offices. The overwhelming message from Mayor Paul Mirabelli was one of appreciation for the volunteers and staff of the Borough of Mountainside. 

"Mountainside will overcome these challenges with a strong, fiscally-responsible approach," said Mirabelli, acknowledging the difficult budget year ahead. He listed the two percent tax cap, cuts in state aid, raising healthcare costs and RVSA costs as the obstacles the Borough Council will have to face in the coming year. - M.C.

New Providence

In the  on Monday, newly elected Mayor J. Brooke Hern outlined his plans to tackle issues that were at the forefront of discussion in 2010. Hern, who was against county ownership of Oakwood Park,  said his administration will immediately work on implementing recommendations of the Recreation Master Plan. He also said it is essential for the borough to bring in new businesses to Mountain Avenue and the downtown area, (building on the success of the new and ), and to seek shared services with neighboring communities to preserve and strengthen municipal programs in the future. - Caitlin Mahon

• Fanwood will "regenerate its surplus 100 percent;"
• The borough will stay under the state-mandated two-percent property tax cap;
• The borough will not slash leaf pickup;
• And the borough will attract new businesses.

Mahr added that municipalities control only about 20 percent of residents' property tax bills. The rest is comprised of school, county and state taxes. For Fanwood residents, the average tax bill is $10,000. The average municipal tax increase, she said, will be about $80, "which really isn't too bad considering," Mahr said. - Alan Neuhauser

Scotch Plains

Scotch Plains Mayor Nancy Malool  regarding municipal spending and residents’ property taxes. “Let’s say we reduce our staffing” to cut municipal taxes by 25 percent, she said. “We can’t provide you the services you’re used to, but we save you $450.”

Malool acknowledged that some residents would nonetheless argue, “‘You have to start somewhere,’” but she asserted that significant property taxes “can be fixed only in one place: in Trenton.” Malool stipulated, however, “It’s not taking away teacher salaries. It’s not taking away home rule.” Instead, she called for “providing property tax relief while improving state funding for education,” concluding, “we can’t live with this property tax structure any longer.”