Orange Mayor Robert L. Brown last night proposed a $25.4 million budget for 1989, representing a 4.5 percent or $1 million-plus increase over last year's spending plan.

Brown submitted his suggested financial package to the city council at its regular meeting. And in doing so, he became the city's first chief executive since the municipality changed from a commission to a mayor-council form of government in 1976 to introduce a budget so early in the year.

Last year, then Mayor Paul Monacelli presented his budget on May 31. And the council did not adopt a spending plan until Sept. 6, the latest any Orange council approved a municipal budget.

"The administrative budget process was exhaustive and involved all city department heads, the business administrator and the municipal clerk," Brown told the council and the public.

The mayor attributed the proposed $1 million hike in municipal operating costs to several factors.

Brown charged Monacelli hired 10 firefighters and placed them on the city's payroll just prior to leaving office. "The effect of these new city employees on the 1989 budget submission is in excess of $340,000, or 31 percent of this year's increase," he said.

Also, Brown said, the city's police officers are now paid 5 percent more than last year as a result of a union contract negotiated under the Monacelli administration. He continued that the city has hired a business administrator and chief financial officer.

Also, municipal garbage disposal and liability insurance costs have skyrocketed, Brown noted.

"This administration has made a strong committment to improve the quality of life for our citizens," Brown said in his first "State of the City" address.

The Brown administration, the mayor maintained, has kept "a focused eye on quality-of-life issues previously left abandoned."

Issues such as "sound fiscal management, safe and clean streets, recreation, senior citizen and education" are now being addressed, he said.

"We inherited an administration whose fiscal management was in the hands of the state (Department of Community Affairs' Division of Local Government Services)," there was "low morale among city employees; a backlog of tax collections; and a police department that was a source of disappointment and controversy," Brown said.

Today, he continued, "I'm pleased to see a city steadily moving towards restoration with vision and sound leadership. That city is my city, your city, our city."

The mayor's proposed budget calls for spending $239,818 more in administrative expenses than the $2.1 million funded in that category last year. Meanwhile, the law department is to get $66,150 less than the $639,150 allocated to it in 1988; and the public works department is to get $1.4 million instead of the $1.2 million it received last year.

According to the mayor's proposal, the police department's budget will rise from $3.9 million last year to $4.2 million this year; the fire department's from $3.4 million to $3.8 million. Also. garbage disposal and insurance costs will increase from $2.5 million to $2.7 million; city council and city clerk's office expenses, from $405,500 to $412,824; and finance department expenses, from $370,550 to $504,000.

In the last six months, Brown asserted, various state and county funding sources have been tapped to help lessen the tax burden of city residents.

For example, the mayor said, one $605,000 grant will help defray the operating costs of the police department and the city's department of public works, another $377,000 grant will help pay for some public safety expenses, and yet another $105,000 award will pay for some street improvements.

Under the direction of Police Director Charles Cobbertt, Brown said, a new police department table of organization was formulated that has resulted in the number of patrolmen on the streets almost doubling without "an additional (financial) burden to the taxpayers."

Furthermore, Brown said, "Through the joint efforts of the Orange Police Department and the Essex County Sheriff's Office, we are sending a clear message to drug dealers: 'You once owned the streets. You don't now. We are taking them back.'"

In the area of recreation, Brown said a $430,000 municipal park restoration program is expected to get under way this spring, "providing for substantial renovation of city parks such as Central and Metcalf."

According to the mayor, $200,000 in capital improvement funds are available this year. he said some of the city's most pressing needs include renovating the police department building on Lincoln police department's antiquated communications system; replacing some traffic lights and parking meters; and buying a new hook and ladder truck; and a new pumper for the fire department.

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“Reach Back with One Hand and Pull Someone Else Up With You.”

– Charles C. Cobbertt

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