August 29 - September 4, 2010

I attended a Rural Awareness meeting on Thursday September 2. Those present voted on a new Rural Awareness logo, and discussed in detail the upcoming October 9 Fall Harvest Home Tour. For more information on the home tour check out

http://www.ruralawareness.org/2010_home_tour/2010_tour_release.pdf

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Two news articles got my attention this week that I would like to share:

1. "Towns Resist Governor's List of Best Practices"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/towns_resist_governors_list_of.html

Last week all 566 NJ municipalities received from the Department of Community Affairs a "best practices" checklist consisting of 88 questions aimed at learning how local governments operate. All towns are being asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by October 1; if not the State will withhold their final state aid payment for 2010. A copy of the best practices checklist can be found here:

http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/fiscal/bud_forms/best_practices_2010.pdf

In a worst case scenario we can lose 5% of our state aid. In calendar year 2010 we are receiving $276,515 in state aid:

http://www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/muniaid/10_aid/10sosa/1010_ssa_2010.pdf

I have no objections to filing out this questionnaire; even though it's our local tax dollars going to the state, and the state then gives us back some of our money and calls it state aid. One could argue the merits of state aid but right now I am going to make sure that the questionnaire is completed and hopefully we will get all 100% of our state aid, and if not, I will find ways to ensure that we do not take such losses in the future.

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Article #2: "Surplus Spending Leads to Westfield Bond Rating Drop"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/surplus_spending_leads_to_west.html

Moodys Investor Services downgraded Westfield's bond rating to Aa2 because the town drew down on their surplus funds for 5 consecutive years to compensate for insufficient revenue. I don't know Franklin's bond rating off the top of my head, but I am going to ask our Finance Officer this week. I do know that our entire budget is $3,319,767 and our anticipated surplus for this year is $1,029,000. According to our auditor this surplus amount is acceptable and as long as I am in office I will not approve of unreasonable surplus spending. If Westfield can mess up it can happen to other towns too but I will be vigilant to ensure that it doesn't happen here.

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The Land Use Board meets this Wednesday and the Town Committee meets on Thursday night- come on out to the municipal building and see how your local officials govern.