Montclair Uses New Framework To Manage Municipal Budget

After years of cutting costs and reducing staff, Montclair is taking a new balanced approach to organizing its municipal budget.

“What we’ve had to do in the last couple of years is really always talk about cutting expenditures, but we have to look at the whole budget: not only cutting expenditures but improving services,” said Township Manager Marc Dashield.

The township manager unveiled the new framework Tuesday to the council. The system breaks down the financial costs of each department in town, and compares it to technologies needed to revive township services, desired outcomes and how these outcomes can be measured. 

The four-squared framework is a tool, said Dashield, for the township to concentrate its efforts when making its final decision on the budget. 

Department Budget Hearings

This new framework was used during the first of four departmental budget hearings on Tuesday night. 

Montclair Municipal Court requested about a 2 percent increase to bring its budget up to $692,000 a year. After revenues, there is a no-net cost to taxpayers. 

The increase, said Judge Richard Insley, is needed to hire an additional full-time employee in order to effectively handle the large number of court cases in Montclair.

Court cases increased more than 12 percent last year, said Insley, from 53,225 in 2011 to 59,854 cases in 2012. The climbing caseload generated about $3,153,000 in 2012, of which the township received about $1,773,000. 

The court currently has 10 full-time employees, which Insley said is not sufficient. Due to the court's limited staff, Insley estimated the township is missing out on more than $20,000 in uncollected parking violation fees. 

“The extra person we should be hiring ... will not only not cost the township money but will generate more money ... and also avoid liability and provide better service,” said Insley. “At eleven [employees] we can do the job; at ten we can’t.” 

Planning and Community Development

The Planning and Community Development Department requested $311,000 for 2013, about $26,500 more than 2012. After revenues, the net cost to taxpayers is about $207,551. 

The increase in the budget, said Director of Community Development Janice Talley, “is largely going to support special planning studies related to redevelopment and additional training and community outreach for the Historic Preservation Commission.” 

The Planning Department is requesting an additional full-time administrative employee to handle the large number of Open Public Record Act requests, and part-time personnel to aid with the large number building inspections when needed. The cost would be about $89,000 for the full-time staff member. 

Dashield also suggested installing an informational kiosk at town hall for residents to look up OPRA property permit requests themselves and print them. The kiosk could greatly reduce staff time currently spent on addressing OPRA requests, said Dashield. 

The overall goal of the Planning Department in 2013, said Dashield, is to increase the number redevelopment plans for areas along Bloomfield Avenue, and increase the historic preservation outreach in town. 

Also in the Planning Department is the Construction Code Office, which requested about $610,000 for 2013. The Construction Code Office generates about $664,000 in revenues, said Dashield, and has a no-net cost to taxpayers. 

Water Bureau and Sewer Utility 

Montclair Water Bureau is looking for $6.8 million in 2013, a 4 percent increase from last year. After revenues, the bureau will cost taxpayers about $5.3 million.

The goals of the Water Bureau in 2013 will be inspecting water pipes in town to determine whether to replace or clean them, among other things, according to the Director of Montclair Water Bureau and Sewer Utility Gary Obszarny. 

The Sewer Utility budget for 2013 will be about $4,830,000. After revenues, the net cost to taxpayers is about $4.4 million. 

This year’s Sewer Utility budget decreased about 23 percent from last year’s budget, which Dashield attributed to a $1.6 million surplus from connection fees from Montclair State University, which was ultimately used for a capital project. 

The main goals for the utility will be to maintain Montclair’s nearly century-old infrastructure by cleaning pipes, replace manhole covers and conduct emergency tests, among other things.