Councilman Chris Morrison Councilman Will Waldron Councilman Justin Manley

Possible reductions in spending The suggested items herein have been proposed based largely on a review of past spending practices and department head requests. The vast majority of the proposals are modest modifications. We propose them for discussion purposes. We recognize that there may be information we do not possess which may change our views. We remain flexible as to each proposal. We also remain open to additional or different proposals.

 Proposals total $215,375 in savings or 2.2 tax points  Large savings opportunities include:  Fuel and Diesel reduced by $76,000  Contractual Services reduced by $32,000  Leaf Bag program eliminated. (This was also proposed by Councilman Weber) Save $29,000  Eliminated funding for program that requires referendum of town to pass. If passed, budget not needed until Saved $15,130  Postage and printing reduced by $14,000. We recommend using web and delivery.

Item2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Postage$28,000$18,000$10,000Reduce mailings use web site and distribution Printing$6,000$2,000$4,000Keep in line with 3 year actual average Professional Services $90,000$75,000$15,000Spent $73,000 in 2008 Conferences and seminars $5,000$3,500$1,500Keep in line with 3 year actual average Bottled Spring Water $600$0$600 Dues & Subscriptions $2,200$2,000$200Keep in line with 3 year actual average TOTAL$31,300

Item2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Conf & Seminars$1,200$950$250Make due with less Dues & Subscriptions $2,600$2,000$600Make due with less TOTAL$850

Item2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Conf & Seminars $900$800$100Keep in line with 3 year average actual Elections$8,000$7,000$1,000Keep in line with 3 year average actual TOTAL$1,100

Collection of Taxes Item 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Equipment Maint. & Repair $750$500$250Spent $0 in 2008 Office Supplies$7,000$4,000$3,000Never spent over $4,000 in 3 years TOTAL$3,250 Tax Assessment Item 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Dues & Subscriptions $200$50$150Spent $0 on this line in 3 years TOTAL$150

Legal Services Item 2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Legal Fees$45,000$40,000$5,000 TOTAL$5,000 METV Item 2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Elec, Lighting, Comm Equip $20,900$20,000$900 TOTAL$900

Planning Item 2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Contractual Services $12,600$7,500$5,100In line with previous years Board Expenses$400$300$100In line with 2008 spend TOTAL$5,200 Zoning Item 2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Contractual Services $4,800$4,000$800In line with previous years Board Expenses$400$300$100In line with 2008 spend TOTAL$900

Police Item 2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Equip M&R$26,215$24,500$1,715In line with previous year’s spend Books & Library Material $400$300$100Spent $272 in 2008 Uniforms$5,000$4,500$500Keep in line with 3 year average actual Equipment$13,000$12,000$1,000Keep in line with 3 year average actual Bottled Spring Water $200$0$200 TOTAL$3,515 OEM Item 2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Expenses$6,400$500$5,900Previous allocation was a one time expense which was made. TOTAL$5,900

Item2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount IncreaseReasoning Contribution$12,000$20,000$8,000First Aid Contribution has been flat for over 10 years. In these difficult economic times it is critical that people who may have lost work or insurance have access to immediate emergency care. TOTAL+$8,000

Item2009 Admin Recomended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Office Supplies$5,500$5,000$500In line with previous years TOTAL$500 Item2009 Admin Recomended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Insurance & Surety Bonds $6,000$5,000$1,000 TOTAL$1,000

Item2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Vehicles M&R$28,000$22,000$6,000Keep in line with 3 year average actuals Conf & Seminars $7,000$6,000$1,000Keep in line with 3 year avg actual Other Equip$20,000$19,000$1,000Spent $18,923 in 2008 Bottled Spring Water $600$0$600 Medical Expenses $3,000$2,000$1,000Spent $1,350 in 2008 Awards & Badges $1,500$750 Spent $550 in 2008 Food$1,000$900$100Spent $865 in 2008 Contribution$53,130$38,000$15,130 Spent $37,530 last year. For two years there has been an appropriation for a LOSAP program though the enabling resolution has never been passed. By law even if voted in, this can not be budgeted until next year. See TOTAL$25,580

Administration Item 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Office Supplies$3,500$3,000$500In line with previous years Conf & Seminars$1,000$700$300 TOTAL$800 Buildings & Grounds Items 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Uniforms$850$750$100As requested by Dept. Head Contractual Services $38,000$31,720$6,280As requested by Dept. Head TOTAL$6,380

Streets Item 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Vehicle Maint.$70,000$68,000$2,000In line with previous years Tools$2,000$1,000 Never spent Uniforms$5,100$4,500$600As requested by Dept. Head Equipment$3,000$2,000$1,000In line with previous years Bottled Spring Water $200$0$200 Comm Equip M&R $1,500$1,250$250In line with previous years Road Materials$10,000$8,000$2,000Have not spent over $8k last two years. Reduced oil means cheaper patch Snow Control$18,000$15,000$3,000As requested by Dept. Head TOTAL$10,050

Sewer Item 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Uniforms$1,700$1,500$200As requested by Dept. Head Public Works Supplies $2,000$1,500$500In line with previous 2 years TOTAL$700 Garbage & Trash Items 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Equipment M&R$3,000$2,000$1,000In line with previous 2 years Uniforms$7,650$7,500$150As requested by Dept. Head TOTAL$1,150

Recycling Item 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Asphalt & Concrete Disposal $1,000$500 Spent $0 last 2 years Education & Publicity $9,000 $0If this is for recycling calendar, we believe this could be reduced TOTAL$500 Garbage & Trash Items 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Equipment M&R$9,000$1,500$7,500Spent $1,200 last year Uniforms$1,700$1,500$200As requested by Dept. Head TOTAL$7,700 Parks & Play Grounds Items 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Uniforms$1,700$1,500$200As requested by Dept. Head TOTAL$200

Shade Tree Commission 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Conf & Seminars$1,400$700 Spent $555 last year Planting$21,000$19,200$1,800In line with 3 year average. Seek volunteers. TOTAL$2,500 Senior Citizen Center Items 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Printing$2,100$1,700$400In line with 3 year average Office Supplies$800$700$100In line with 3 year average TOTAL$500

Interlocal Services Items 2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Leaf Bags$29,000$0$29,000If you need leaf bags, please consider purchasing locally to help the Metuchen economy Library Consortium $27,000$25,000$2,000Has never been greater than $25K in 3 years TOTAL$31,000 Utility Items2009 Admin Recommended Proposed Amount SavingsReasoning Gasoline and Diesel Fuel $186,000$110,000$76,000Year Spend Avg State Contract Price 2008 $183,500 $2.75/gal 2007 $108,750 $2.15/gal 2006 $ 98,000 $1.99/gal 2009 ??? $1.40/gal TOTAL$76,000

Item2009 Admin Rec Proposed Amount IncreaseReasoning Office Supplies$7,500$7,000$500In line with 3 year average Conf & Seminars $500$250 Spent $0 in 2008 TOTAL$750