Don’t Be Trashy, Recycle

• Tweet

Breaking News: Middletown Victim Of Cyber Attack

By Art Gallagher

An international crime syndicate with ties to the Ukraine hacked into Middletown Township’s computer system early this month and withdrew over $370,000 from the township’s bank accounts, according to confidential sources within the township.  All but $13,000 of the stolen funds have been recovered.

“Who told you?” was Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore’s confirmation that the cyber attack occurred, when asked about it by MoreMonmouthMusings.

The theft was discovered by finance department personnel on September 9. The Middletown Township Police Department was able to get all but the $13,000 that had already been withdrawn from the thieves accounts frozen and returned to the township.

Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger confirmed that the majority of funds had been recovered and said there were ongoing efforts to recover the missing $13,000.  Scharfenberger also said that he was told that the federal government was already investigating similar incidents at other municipalities.

Fiore said that the method of the attack was new and blocks for such attacks had not yet been developed.  He said that social networking sites were being restricted from the township’s computers are a precaution against future attacks.

Special Agent Bryan L. Travers of the FBI declined to comment on a ongoing investigation or to divulge what other municipalities or businesses have be victimised.

Travers said the these types of cyber attacks usually occur on holiday weekends and advised that finance managers should conduct pending business before a holiday and shut their systems down until returning to work.

• Tweet

Towns Need Passage of 33 Bills in Mayor’s Toolbox Legislation

By Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Middletown

Now that the legislature is back in session, all eyes are focused on Trenton as the debate over Governor Christie’s “Mayor’s Toolbox” begins in earnest.  The 33 bills contained within the “toolbox” are critical to give local governments the ability to cut spending that they are legally unable to do now.  It is imperative that the legislature act quickly to implement these essential reforms.  Unfortunately, it appears that resistance is growing to many of the bills from special interest groups that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, regardless of how damaging it is to those who pay local property taxes.  These special interests appear oblivious to the current economic crisis the country is facing.

The only hope that residents of New Jersey have to cut the state’s highest in the nation property taxes is to allow their local officials to cut their budgets, get reasonable concessions from the unions, have significant pension and benefit reform and remove education funding from the backs of local property owners.  The people of New Jersey simply cannot afford to subsidize a system that has grown way too big and way too expensive.  Many residents, if they are lucky enough to still have a job, have often had to accept a pay cut or a pay freeze, contribute 30% or more to their health care, and fund their own retirement through a 401k or similar plan.  It is time for government to be brought in line with the private sector and Governor Christie’s reforms will allow local officials to do just that.

• Tweet

Middletown Township Adopts Reduced 2010 Budget

MIDDLETOWN – Township officials adopted an amended $64.7 million budget that reflects ongoing efforts to cut costs and keep the tax rate stable by cutting spending an additional $400,000.

“This year’s budget reflects a reduction of 40 staff positions, a salary freeze and across-the-board reductions in departmental operating budgets,” said Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger.  “In sum, the Township’s amended budget represents a 2.67% increase in total property taxes in an extraordinarily difficult economic year.”

Under the amended budget, the municipal tax rate will increase 4.6 cents to 39.75 cents per $100 of assessed value.  This equates to approximately $17 per month for the average Township home assessed at $435,000.

“This year, municipal taxes represent just 23% of a resident’s tax bill, with 62% being levied for schools and 15% for the county,” concluded Scharfenberger.

The adopted budget addresses nearly $10 million in lost revenue, including:

• $1.6 million cut in state aid.

• $1.4 million obligation for retroactive pay under resolved labor contracts.

• $1 million in increased health care costs and nearly $1 million in deferred excess claims from 2009.

• $900,000 for extraordinary snow and storm clean-up.

• $1.8 million in deferred pension payments mandated by the state.

• $1 million in property tax appeal refunds.

• $400,000 in lost recycling revenue.

The amended budget can be viewed on line at www.middletownnj.org

• Tweet