HAMMONTON BLOG

Silly Admin- it's all good! We are the only town that has been spending money like water on senseless projects during a global financial crises. Think about it we built a poor quality town hall that was double the cost they estimated and we built a senior center that was suppose to be included in the 5.9 but since that went way over budget on town hall taxpayers had to pay 1.5 million for the center that no one is using. Let's not forget water and sewer to the bowling alley at 1 million and not sure how much it cost the taxpayers to renovate down town buildings and the list goes on and on and just think we are paying these clowns a salary to put us further in debt. Notice when it come to them and projects that benefit only them money is no object!

Why not develop a Democrat proposed budget?  You can show everyone in Hammonton how you would setup things.

The 2009 budget which is posted on the town's web site at http://www.townofhammonton.org/documents/2009municipalbudget.pdf.

You can go to town hall and get information like the increases in health care costs and decreases in state funds, etc. 

Then you can develop an entire 2010 budget.  You can show where you would cut each line item to make it all work out.

Anonymous wrote:

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Why not develop a Democrat proposed budget?  You can show everyone in Hammonton how you would setup things.

The 2009 budget which is posted on the town's web site at http://www.townofhammonton.org/documents/2009municipalbudget.pdf.

You can go to town hall and get information like the increases in health care costs and decreases in state funds, etc. 

Then you can develop an entire 2010 budget.  You can show where you would cut each line item to make it all work out.

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This is not a Democratic Proposed budget but here is what I suggest:
1) we NOT move forward with Stockton since it will increase debt and incur Engineering fees and Solicitior Fees, etc.  Just use the school. 

2) Since the Boyer Avenue fields are are in disarray, why don't we move soccer to one of the schools to cut upkeep of Boyer Avenue

3) Reduce the coding department to part-time for everyone since there is not as much construction or jus combine with other towns

4) Not fund the Hammonton Revitalization Corp and the Historical Commission

5)  Combine our municipal court with neighboring towns along with the defender and the prosecutor

6)  How about not moving forward with the purchase of the garage on Egg Harbor Road for downtown parking.  We are issuing debt that was previously authorized and there will be engineering fees and remediation fees.

7) Not move forward with the Hammonton Lake Park Phase 2 since grants are up in the air.

8) Sell the airport.

9)  We hired "consultants" to run our small cities grant program, aka, know as the Little Italy Project that never was.  Abolish the program.

10)  Cut Brian Howell and ARH's fees.

11) Look to lease out the Canoe club since no one uses it.

12) Allow for payment of municipal taxes online.

13) Enter into a shared services agreement for vehicle and facility maintenance with school and neighboring towns.

How about that for a start?

 

What you said sounds good but HF will NEVER listen to you or anyone else for that matter because they know it all and everything this town does has to benefit them. How does what you are saying benefit them? Two years ago they gave Brian Howell a $10,000 a year raise plus increased his hourly rate. ARH has made millions from this town and HF is making them even richer with all the change orders. Curious to know what codes do we enforce? Also if HF has no intentions of raising taxes and there is no new building going on why do we need a full time tax assessor who makes some where around $80,000 a year plus health benefits, pension etc. and a full time secretary...what do they do all day??? They just put a ton of money into the airport that no one uses. It makes you wonder what the hell are they doing???

Anonymous wrote:

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Not a very good start considering there already is $0 in the municipal budget for Stockton.  There is nothing to cut. 

Sounds like you can't present a full budget but just want to bash.

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It seems the Democrats can avail themselves of a unique opportunity.  Present a complete budget showing everything line-by-line and how they would setup each revenue and expense.

While anyone can bash or just list a few items, the Democrats would have the opportunity to show whatever true priorities they had be listing everyline item and how that would add up to whatever balance budget, debt or tax rate desired. 

Toxic Avenger wrote:

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Maybe if you are so worried about the Democrats input, invite them and the Republicans and anyone else who desires to attend for a budget session televised and let a true discussion of our priorities.  Just make sure that you have all the documentation and the CFO is there.

Of course, you will be free to blame them for everything and throughout the year you will be able to hide various expenses under departmental operations.

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In the meantime, why don't you respond to each of the 13 points that I have suggested.

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Better yet, why won't HF talk about the total cost for the new town hall, the total cost for the Canoe Club that is just sitting vacant. Even better yet why doesn't HF explain why they gave Brian Howell a $10,000 a year raise and increased his hourly rate and why can't Stockton use our public High School. Come on HF inquiring minds want to know why are you avoiding these questions and more????? Something to hide huh?