“We’ve known for a long time this was coming.”
The moment that Medford Mayor Randy Pace has been dreading may have finally arrived. Facing a nearly $6 million deficit, Medford is taking desperate measures to cut costs. Those measures may soon include taking away trash removal from its budget, which the town spends nearly $1 million on each year.
Township officials say the gross mismanagement of tax dollars during past administrations has led to the current mess. Medford recently unveiled an $18,377,628 budget proposal. Last year’s budget was $21,870,040. Despite cuts to the local police department and parks and recreation, Medford still may not have enough to take out the trash for its residents.
“It’s ridiculous, it’s time to move,” said Julie Oboyle. “If we can’t get trash right there has got to be a problem.”
“There’s not a house here that pays under $14,000 or $15,000 a year,” said another resident.
“I think it’s ridiculous we pay a lot of money,” said Jody Pagliuso of Medford.
Mayor Pace says because taxes didn’t go up for six years, revenue streams diminished and the past administration overspent.
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“Sooner or later you’re going to have to pay the piper,” said Mayor Pace.
Now voters have two options. They can either approve a tax hike by ballot referendum in April to keep municipal trash pick-up. Or they could contract and pay a private hauler to take their trash away.
“I won’t pay more for that,” said Pagliuso. “Absolutely not. We pay enough and it’s Medford. It’s Medford, New Jersey.”
Medford Township has a budget meeting planned for Wednesday night. Residents plan to attend and suggest ways to help the township either make or save money. One idea is to help downtown businesses, many of which are vacant or have rent signs in the window. Regardless of the plan, the Mayor says the most important thing for the town is unity.
“We all have to put on our big boy pants,” said the Mayor. “And get this problem fixed.”
