Freehold Twp. plans to reduce work force
Assistance office expected to be closed; state-aid cut, shrinking revenues cited
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
Although it is not yet certain how much Freehold Township's 2008 municipal budget will amount to in dollars, cuts of at least 10 positions show the human cost the budget will bring with it when it is introduced by the Township Committee in the near future.

One position expected to be cut is the public assistance officer, a job that RoseAnn Polo has held for 18 years.

According to Polo, in addition to a general assistance program that provided social services, referrals and assistance to senior citizens, Polo's office also provided a community food pantry; the "Put a Backpack on Every Back" program that provided school supplies to families that could not afford them; holiday food baskets; and clothing for families in need.

According to Polo, her position and her office are expected to be eliminated in the new budget. She said she was "heartbroken" when she heard the news last week.

"I love what I do," she said. "People think Freehold Township is a wealthy town, but it is a different world today. In today's world there is no more middle class."

She said a tough economy and realities in the real estate market have caused a significant increase in her workload.

"People assume that residents in Freehold Township are not in need, and that's simply not true. I take care of the working poor," she said.

The services that have been provided by Polo's office will be transferred to Monmouth County. Over the past few years other area municipalities have closed their own welfare offices and transferred services to the county.

Freehold Township Administrator Thomas Antus confirmed the reality of this year's budget that officials have been working on for several months. He said there are plans to eliminate 10 positions.

"We have a cut of $1.4 million in our state aid because the state has decided to solve its problems on the backs of municipalities. We should be entitled to our aid. which is our tax dollars and we are entitled to them," he said.

Antus said Freehold Township, like other New Jersey municipalities, will have problems trying to maintain all of the services that have been provided in the past. Shrinking state aid and a reduction in the amount of local revenue that can be raised is putting the squeeze on towns, he said.

"Plus the interest rate is down on investments causing a negative $600,000," he said. "Construction permits are down $100,000. We're down $2 million altogether."

Antus said $800,000 in nonpersonnel items is being cut out of the budget.

"And we are forced because of the state aid cuts to reduce our staff by 10 people. The salaries of those 10 people total $500,000," he said.

Antus said the following Freehold Township departments will lose at least one member of their staff: welfare office, construction office, health office, municipal court, planning office, Shade Tree Department and the Department of Public Works. The Freehold Community Counseling Center will lose three staff members.

He said plans are in the works to close the Freehold Community Counseling Center or to greatly reduce it.

"Here in Freehold Township we have been able to be all things to all people. The governor has changed that," Antus said.