Choi expects 'difficult choices' amid state aid cut
Edison firefighters cite already low resources, ask not to be targeted
BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer

EDISON - In the wake of anticipated slashes in state municipal aid from Trenton, as well as overall economic hardships throughout the country, Edison Mayor Jun Choi said that he expects the township will need to make some difficult budgetary choices in the future. Choi said that Edison is to receive almost $1 million less in state aid than in previous years, a consequence of Gov. Jon Corzine's efforts to address New Jersey's substantial fiscal problems. The mayor added that this reduction in aid compounds the already environment of rising fuel prices, which the mayor said has gone up 200 percent, as well as health care costs, which he said has risen 6 to 8 percent. Adding to this is just the overall cost increases that come naturally with time and inflation. The product of these two factors, he said, will be some tough choices when looking at the township's budget.

"These are difficult economic times, and we will need to make difficult choices," Choi said in a phone interview June 27.

He said that when it comes to examining the finances of the township, "all options are on the table."

One group that would prefer to be left off the table, however, is the Edison Firefighters Association. Releasing a statement on June 26, the firefighters union stated that they believe the fire department is already underbudgeted and understaffed. While acknowledging that the anticipated loss in state aid, as part of the new Corzine budget, may stress the town's coffers, they nonetheless said there are other places that Edison could make cuts.

"It's ridiculous to even talk about the possibility of considering cutting the already undermanned fire and police departments because of budget considerations while the township administration continues hiring armies of highly paid consultants and creating new bureaucratic fiefdoms under mayoral control," said Robert Yackel, president of

the Edison Fire Fighters Association in the written statement.

The statement singled out the newly created redevelopment agency as "a perfect example." It said that the proposed budget for the agency is $500,000 to do a job that, until now, the council had always handled for no extra money.

According to the application sent to the New Jersey Local Finance Board in order to get the redevelopment agency's creation approved by the state, the proposed budget for the initial year was cited at $150,000 (outlined on page 1), which would pay the salaries of an executive director and an executive secretary, in addition to covering procedural costs incurred by the agency's creation. Topping this off is a $15,000 cost in order to pay for a bond counsel and a financial adviser (outlined on page 7). The new redevelopment agency might need to hire other professionals, such as engineers or lawyers, which might further drive costs up, but this was not referred to in the statement.

The statement also singled out the hiring of a full-time publicist and spokesman, for $65,000 annually, a director of constituent relations at $50,000, and Howard Dill, director of special projects. It also referred to rising fees as an area where cuts could be made.

When asked whether he would be willing to take the fire department off the table when considering cuts, Choi reiterated that all options are on the table.

"As I said, all options are on the table. Look, these are hard economic times. Everybody, most Edison residents, are struggling with high gas prices, with expensive food, with their utility bills rising. … Working families of Edison are having a difficult time. We, as a government, need to be responsible and hold the line on taxes [tapping his finger on the table for emphasis] even though state aid has been reduced and our fiscal challenges are pressing. All options are on the table," said Choi.