Temporary Budget OKd At Special Meeting

(Reprinted from Amboy Beacon, Jan. 12, 2011)

PERTH AMBOY — The City Council voted unanimously at a Special Meeting last

week to authorize a 2011 Temporary Budget totaling $15,458,950, $460,124

below the permitted $15,919,074, representing one-quarter of the Fiscal Year

2009-10 Budget of $63,676,295.

The Resolution was moved by Councilman William Petrick, seconded by

Councilman Kenneth Gonzalez and adopted 5-0.

The Budget includes $12,758,950 for Current Fund, $2,545,000 for Water &

Wastewater Utility and $155,000 for Parking Utility.

Business Administrator Gregory Fehrenbach said that the 2011 Temporary

Budget, which represents about one-quarter of the FY 2009-10 Budget, was

prepared by Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jill Goldy “to cover possible

services” which must be funded for the first three months of 2011.

However, he pointed out that the line-item accounts are not a straight

25-percent because some expenses occur earlier in the year than others.

For example, Fehrenbach noted that “Debt Service and Liability Insurance

are front-end-loaded” in the Temporary Budget because bills for them come

earlier in the year.

“Salaries & Wages includes the estimated pay for employees for three months

plus overtime based-upon past experience,” Goldy said. “Other Expenses is

more-challenging, with the first three months from last year plus an

approximate increase from last year, along with amendments to increase any amounts

not accounted-for, such as training for City Council members.”

“In the meantime, we’re trying to develop out Calendar Year 2011 Budget,”

Fehrenbach said, “The Jan. 15 due-date was extended two weeks, but it’s

likely to take one-and-a-half months to find-out our state-aid numbers.

“We can have a Budget to the City Council by the end of January and wait

for state aid,” he added.

As adopted, the 2011 Temporary Budget totals $15,458,950, with $12,758,950

for Current Fund, divided into $6,695,200 for Salaries & Wages, $5,601,700

for Other Expenses, $415,000 for Statutory Expenses and $47,050 for Grants.

Salaries & Wages includes $3,189,000 for the Police Department, $1,116,000

for the Public Works Department, $1,100,000 for the Fire Department and

smaller amounts for other Departments.

Other Expenses includes $3,153,000 for General Government, the bulk of that

($3,000,000) for Insurance; $900,000 for Utilities, $777,500 for Public

Works and smaller amounts for other Departments.

Statutory Expenses includes $265,000 for Social Security System and

$150,000 for Accumulated Absence Leave Liability.

Grants includes $22,050 for Matching Funds, $20,000 for Urban Enterprise

Zone (UEZ) Administration and $5,000 for Municipal Alliance Against Drug Abuse.

The Water & Wastewater Utility Budget includes $2,515,000 for United

Service Affiliates of Perth Amboy (USAPA) Fixed Service Fee and $30,000 for Other

Expenses.

The Parking Utility Budget includes $80,000 for Salaries & Wages and

$75,000 for Other Expenses.

During the public portion of the meeting, resident Orlando Perez stated

that he read “13 counties are eligible for FEMA (FEMA) grants, including

Middlesex,” pertaining to the windstorm that caused damages along the Waterfront

and High Street, and asked the status of Perth Amboy’s application for

funding.

“We submitted our application today,” Fehrenbach responded.