Kind of says it all.

"Our snow budget went down," resident Phil Checchia said. "So that's where the money came from."

1.5% reduction on a $20,000,000 budget, and more or less nothing on the levy. "A night of celebration", really Al? Taxes stable with no decrease. I'd be apologizing to the people that it wasn't more. Not enough, just my opinion. Reading this article makes me laugh.

One important comment to add. The complete budget as "unveiled" on Monday night should be available online at least two weeks before the public hearing on the budget. Seems like that will be on May 21. It should be online in it's entirety exactly as shown to the committee. The public needs to see the whole budget (not a condensed version) so that educated questions can be asked with no grey areas as to figures. Full hard copies of the budget should also be available to the public if requested at least two weeks before the public hearing. No excuses from the committee as to the facts that things could change in the budget, the people need to see the budget as the committee sees it. I'm sure there is nothing to hide, so make it available. Members of this committee have been asked about an ad hoc public budget committee and have said that they have no problem taking suggestions from the public. Make sure that the public has all of the tools to ask educated questions.

A manifestation of "no thanks" to the five department store dummies. How dare you take a bow for Mother Nature's mercy? Mr. Checcia is 100% correct. Had Barnegat gone through a normal winter with snow, you would be crying the blues.

This is political prostitution as people choose to tolerate it. Take a bow when sheer coincidence works in your favor or find someone else to blame when fate goes against you.

There is not a shred of integrity on that committee. Tax Busters? Doing More with Less?

Anyone need a laxative???

This committee in Barnegat has to think it's citizenry are idiots. Anyone with a shred of intelligence can see the "modest" savings are from the mild winter weather as said by Mr. Checchia. Breeden can blow smoke in any direction he wants but without the past very mild winter, he and the committee would be preachiing a whole different sermon.
Happy Days are "not" here again until there is very serious cost reduction in the operation of this town therby lowering the cost of home ownership to reside here.

Remember folks, this is an important election for the Republicans, this was done so their nice and shinny flyers have this plastered all over it.

sorry, I meant "shiny"

God endorses Melchiondo and Cirulli, otherwise we would have had a bad winter.

Sorry, had to delete one comment, above, because of bad language. Please try again, minus the swear word. :) Thank you!

Do the town officials ever read our comments?
If they did they would stop bowing. They got lucky this season period!!
As far as good services, we have less and they want us to believe they are doing a proper job. Let's not forget how the Mayor's building had a $1000 less tax this year while mine have gone up every quarter over the past 3 years!!!!.
Total blind leadership.

I have heard the facts that Wally got up at a republican club meeting and refused to accept Ralpael and some other people who wanted to join the GOP locally and were voted down after Wally told the meeting attendees the nominees were not of the fold and will take over the club with more new members that would follow .Thus loosing control of the Barnegat republican club would occur.
This is a perfect storm for the current up for re-election rinos who will enjoy the same treatment come November, only no to it's old members in November say the town's electorate who will give them a dose of the same .
Fake republican's in GOP garb.Vote for Taylor and Conway in November for a clean sweep of old time politcal BS.
To say you saved tax money when Mother Nature gave us a break and say it is a tax decrease is a down ploy tactic.No committee members caught it ,they sure did and agreed to it with out thanking Mother Nature while knowing it was HER.

Meanwhile, the unmitigated gall of the five department store dummies continues to be an impediment to Barnegat.

Mr. Mureo took the bull by the horns concerning the obscene tax burden unfairly imposed on homeowners. Mr. Mureo and Mr. Checchia both merit a round of applause.

The Committee and Administrator take a bow at the Township meeting but the beat goes on. For all the "savings" they claim they always tax and spend. How about the waste of money on a master plan? How about being taxed twice? We pay the Township taxes to sweep Township roads, then we pay State taxes but the Township sweeps the state highway at our expense. Why? Why are Town workers painting County curbing, when we pay County taxes to have that done? And of course we use our sweeper to do the County road in front of the Ex-Mayors business. Why did we waste money on a water fountain in the "park" in the center of town? We are still Wasting money at Lower Shore Road.. The "Free" turf is going to be put down for a few years then we will taken it up at great expense and a grass field put down. This is what the mayor said at a Township meeting and he said it with a smile on his face. How about the $400,000. dollars in bonded money to fix Township roads. What will really happen to that money? I've said it before and i'll say it again. This Committee, along with this Administrator never met a dollar they wouldn't spend. By the way. I like the new shoes we bought the Administrator. Very nice and expensiive 5 year contract he got yet other Township workers are still without a contract. Wonder if that has any effect on the "GREAT" budget?

Pray for global warming, without which we are totally screwed.

Len Morano said " I asked this committee that we all work together and now I say 'thank you.' We dropped a couple of pennies -- not a lot. ... Even though it's an election year, but that means nothing, I say 'thank you,' anyway." This guy is a joke!