Lopatcong Council Addresses Budget Concerns and Public Safety Enhancements

The Lopatcong Town Council, in their latest meeting, focused on the 2024 budget discussion, with attention paid to the local share tax increase, capital improvements, and public safety enhancements, including police department expansions and traffic safety measures. Despite a projected 2.2-cent increase in the local share tax, equating to an additional $51 annually for taxpayers, the council expressed the need for careful budget management to recover fund balance from the previous year.

The council discussed the allocation of funds for capital improvements, notably park improvements and the Fox Farm Road mitigation, which requires substantial investment due to a lack of sufficient FEMA funds. Efforts to seek additional support from Senator Steinhardt were mentioned, with hopes for his assistance in mitigating the financial burden on the township.

Public safety was a prominent topic, with plans to increase police presence through the addition of a full-time officer, the establishment of a traffic unit to address complaints, and the potential expansion of the school resource officer program in collaboration with the local school district. Investments in technology, like e-ticketing systems, were proposed to enhance efficiency and safety during traffic stops.

The fire department’s concerns regarding the aging ladder truck and an impending price increase were highlighted. The need for a purchase order before the price hike takes effect to secure the vehicle was discussed, but no clear resolution was provided during the meeting.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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