Budget issues drive contest for Millburn board

Like in nearly all elections, money and budget issues are featured in the Millburn contest for a single three-year seat on the township committee, where Democrat Michael Dana is the sole challenger to Mayor Sandra Haimoff, the Republican incumbent.

Although Dana said it was never his intention to seek political office, he said he grew weary of politics-as-usual in the township, particularly, he said, in the way the township spends its money.

"We've got to get back to basics," he said. "The town budget has run amok."

Roughly 18 percent of the township's $48.2 million budget is discretionary spending, and he said that portion of the budget needs a hard look, particularly in a recession.

For instance, Dana said, communications with residents can be done in a smarter, cheaper way. He cited a recent instance of a township mailing consisting of a colorful magnet with information on Millburn's leaf-collection efforts.

"I think it's nice that they mailed it, but it's costly," said Dana, a local businessman. "I would have had to think of a cheaper to way to do it, I'm sure."

A few weeks later, he said, the same information was included in a local newspaper ad.

He also suggested looking at whether the township's public works department needs to be open six days a week. He said he would look at how much savings could be had from a four-day week.

Haimoff, though, said impending tough budget choices and decisions call for the type of veteran expertise she's cultivated over the years.

"You really need somebody there who's had the experience and the background and the understanding," she said.

And though Dana said that not enough effort has gone into looking into increasing shared services with neighboring towns, Haimoff said there are ongoing discussions with nearby municipalities regarding a shared-service strategy. Those could soon result in the consolidation of some courts services and additional savings, she said.

Haimoff, a longtime presence in township affairs, said Millburn has hewed to a pay-as-you-go fiscal philosophy, which has kept the township with much smaller debt-service burden than most other towns. The poor economy more than ever calls for a learned hand at the municipal level.

"I know the areas we can look at in order to save money before we have to really resort to that 18 percent" that accounts for discretionary spending.

Otherwise, she said, personnel and programs could be subject to cuts.

"I hope we can manage to do trimming around the edges before we have to reach that point," she said.

Richard Khavkine is a reporter for the New Jersey Local News Service. He may be reached at (908) 243-6231 or rkhavkine@njlns.com.