LETTERS: Budget Crisis or Lack of Budgeting?
Friday, July 17, 2009
CATEGORY LETTERS
At the June 25th Gloucester City Council meeting I asked our municipal leadership why they have not hired new recruits for our Police Department. Acting Mayor and Finance Committee chairman, Councilman Marchese, responded to my question by stating that Gloucester City is currently in a budget crisis and is awaiting a State grant. I do not disagree with Mr. Marchese’s admission of our City’s budget crisis. I do, however, question the reasons that led to this crisis and the resulting shortage of Police Department man power.
The Police Department’s Budget:
In the past, our City has hired a new Police Department recruit, trained him at the Police Academy and had him ready to work the job before a retiring officer left the department. This was done to avoid a shortage of man power. Officer Craig Reinhardt retired from the GCPD in April of 2008. If our City government had followed the described pattern, a recruit should have been hired towards the end of 2007 or early 2008. That being said…
Ø Why then, with advance notice, did our City Government fail to budget the hiring of a new Police Officer, for 2009, in 2008 when Officer Reinhardt retired?
Ø As a new recruit would start at a lower salary than a 20+ year veteran Officer, why has our City government not hired a new patrolman using the previously budgeted money for Officer Reinhardt?
Ø Most importantly, what will our Mayor and Council do if the State of New Jersey refuses to grant the funds to hire the additional Officer(s)?
Budgeting for Property Development:
Currently, Gloucester City owns over 150 properties with an assessed value exceeding $20,000,000. This total is the tax assessed value, not purchase or saleable value and does not reflect the total amount spent on code violations, maintenance, operations, administration, bond interest payments or personnel costs. That being said…
Ø If our City is in a budget crisis, why than has our government felt it necessary to continue to purchase additional properties like Amspec (for a total of over $5,000,000) and further the development of the Chatham Square Apartments?
Ø If our City government can make room to budget for property development costs why can they not budget to replace one Police Officer?
I believe the strain on our Police Department’s resources represents a clear threat to our overall public safety and at least demands the ceasing of speculative property development to reinvestment instead in our existing community obligations.
Respectfully submitted,
Wil Levins
Independent Candidate for Gloucester City Council, Second Ward
www.willevins.com