Dawn of a new day

As Governor Christie continues fulfilling his campaign promises to address the serious long-term fiscal problems plaguing the State of New Jersey, the task facing our local elected officials is changing significantly. After many years of being either unable or unwilling to control the growth of property taxes, developments in Trenton are now forcing the hand of Teaneck's Council and Board of Education members. New legislation passed yesterday limits property taxes to an average of 2% per annum, with limited exceptions.

This protection for overstretched taxpayers compels Teaneck to take a more hands-on approach to planning and budgeting. As discussed previously on this blog, the days of tallying up the total required to balance the budget and handing the bill over to the residents are over. Fiscal issues cannot be the subject of a handful of meetings and workshops in the weeks leading up to approval. With a hard cap far below the historical rate of tax increases all but etched in stone, we know exactly where we need to come in every year, and there should be no need for the annual deadline drama of protest and recrimination as somebody's cherished program or job is slated for sudden elimination. 

It bears repeating: with more constants and fewer unknowns in the annual budget equation, the Township Council and the Board of Education should be working all year round to identify areas where cost increases in the following year are likely to eat up a larger portion of the pie as well as the places where offsetting savings can be found. There is no excuse for anything but a more deliberate and better considered approach under the new circumstances, and thanks to Governor Christie's initiative, we will know exactly whom to blame if we do not get that.