Crime & Safety

PBA Delegate Issues Statement on Budget

Budget debate about impact on public safety continues.

The following is a statement on the 2010 proposed municipal operating budget from Summit PBA #55 state delegate Michael Freeman:

There are two important points that must be stressed on 2010 proposed budget. Some seem to believe that this reduction in police staffing is a reasonable response to weather tough economic times. The unfortunate reality is that the reduction, with any cap in place means that even when the economy is booming, these positions can not be reclaimed. The more important point that 5 members of council will not admit is that there would have been no tax increase had they accepted the $45,000 offered by the PBA and $22,000 needlessly spent for physical exams for firefighters, separate from the physicals they receive from their own physicians. It should be no surprise at this point that Council, with the exception of Mr. Vernotico and Mr. Murphy, had no intention of replacing those police officers, even without a cost to the taxpayer.

When I addressed council at the last meeting, the response was not about this budget. It was about the agenda that was created years ago by Mr. Getzendanner, to cut two positions in the police department. That agenda has been joined by four other members of council. Ms. Dickson claimed a $4 million dollar cost over the lifetime of a police officer and Chatham Township cut 5 police officers with no effect. I can't comment on the accuracy of either of those figures because they have no bearing on the operating budget that the PBA attempted to mollify. I would offer a more accurate comparison to Millburn Police Department whose PBA and town council agreed to a contract extension similar to the original offer that the PBA made to council in December. In an apparent offer of proof that we don't need 48 police officers, Council President Bomgaars either purposely or accidentally miscalculated the number of calls for service handled by Summit Police. He claimed to have a year-to-date total of slightly more than 8,000 calls and stated "if you double that, it gives you 16-17,000 calls for the year, not the 25,000-plus that you say." The number of calls is indisputable. Each call is documented with date/time and reporting officer. The troubling part of Mr. Bomgaars' statement is that he said this on May 15. The number that he was reading was from April 30 so he should have known to multiply by 3 to get an estimate of 25,000. That was either a deliberate attempt to mislead the public on an important point or a frightful example of Mr. Bomgaars' math skills as he attempts to decide on a complex budget.

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At this point, Council should admit that money is not the issue. It is not about a tax increase. After rejecting our offer, the tax savings is $5 per year for a police officer. Without a contract extension, every member of the PBA will pay 1.5% of our salary to the city. That amount will again, more than cover the cost of replacing two police officers, but council will not factor that into the budget. Those who are applauding this council for holding the line on taxes are being duped. There is simply no way that this "plan" can work if the goal is to reduce taxes. It will undoubtedly cause an increase in taxes that will begin the death spiral that Mr. Vernotico detailed.  I implore you to look beyond the rhetoric. Governor Christie directed municipalities to open contracts–get the unions to agree to salary freezes, health care contributions and limit future raises to 2.5%. That is the Governor's road to fiscal responsibility. The members of Summit PBA agreed with all of that but it was turned down by 5 members of council who are not interested in controlling taxes. They are solely motivated to cut the size of the police department, contrary to the advice of those they have paid to evaluate the police department.

Please call, e-mail or come out to the meeting next Tuesday to let Summit Common Council know that cutting the size of the police department in an attempt to reduce overtime is illogical. We respond to over 2,000 calls per month and it sometimes takes more people than we maintain on a shift on a regular basis now. What do they expect to happen in the future?

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-Michael Freeman


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