Bernards Loses $491K in Municipal Aid

Facing its second major cut in two days, Bernards will lose close to another half million dollars in state aid money in 2010-11.

The NJ Department of Community Affairs announced Thursday afternoon that Bernards will lose $491, 410 in municipal aid for the upcoming fiscal year. The announcement follows Wednesday's news that Bernards will lose nearly $3.9 million in school funding for 2010-11.

The cut in municipal aid comes in at a 21.5 percent reduction from last year–$1.80 million compared to $2.29 million in 2009-10. Bernards received the seventh-largest reduction in Somerset County by percentage of municipal aid, and fourth highest in total dollars.

Bridgewater was the hardest hit both in percentage and total dollars, losing $1.95 million or 24.8 percent of its municipal aid. Montgomery, Watchung, Bernardsville and Far Hills all lost more than 23 percent of their state aid as well, and all but seven townships or boroughs in the county lost more than 20 percent.

"I think there has been a general understanding for months that a cut will be coming," Mayor Scott Spitzer said. "It's not surprising to us, and it will clearly be a challenge for us in connection with our budget, but there is no doubt that [it will hurt] other townships and municipalities which are more dependent on state aid."

"We have never been as dependent on state aid as other munipalities are," Spitzer said. "Nonetheless we do get some and it will have some impact, but as to the exact impact that remains to be seen. ... We need to look at the whole picture and we will do that over the next couple of months."

The mayor said that Township Administrator Bruce McArthur will review the new municipal aid figures from the state and determine their impact throughout the budget drafting process. "We need to have an analysis done by our township administrator together with his staff, and then he will be presenting us with a draft budget over the next several meetings," Spitzer said.

The next township committee meeting is at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23, in town hall.