In a recent Star-Ledger article, Newark Mayor Cory Booker came under scrutiny for his many out-of-town appearances. The Newark City Council has had more than a few differences with the mayor and has also produced a new budget that calls for $600 million in spending. Newark City Councilman Darrin Sharif told Managing Editor Mike Schneider that while he doesn’t have a problem with Booker’s travel schedule, he does take issue with how he has been engaging with government and the city council.
“This budget like last year, and the year before, is gonna be horrendous for residents and there are certainly negotiations that have to take place that demand his physical presence and he needs to be present at those negotiations,” said Sharif.
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Sharif bristles at criticism leveled at the council for failing to produce a timely budget, saying that the reason for the delay was caused by factors including budget negotiations at the state level.
“Theoretically, by statute, we’re supposed to adopt [a budget] March 31 and we know that’s unrealistic only because so much money that we get comes from the state and we have to wait until they adopt their budget first.”
According to Sharif, another reason for the delay is that the mayor’s office failed to produce documentation supporting the mayor’s spending.
“It was only June 15 that we got the unaudited, but more clear financial documentation. For example, the spending plan that we got from him in February did not account for the additional $18 million of revenue. We didn’t know about that and there was an over-forecast on what we call our pilot — paid in lieu of taxes — and that’s down by roughly $5 million.”
Sharif says that the council has not had any direct communication with Booker over the budget.
“This budget statutorily is the most important thing that we do as council people and this is arguably the most important thing that he does as a mayor. So for those negotiations, he should be there.”
Sharif notes that the mayor’s lack of presence comes as a contrast to budget negotiations in 2010 when Booker was trying to push through a municipal utilities authority as part of the budget.
“That authority was attached to our budget because it projected to put $70 million into the budget. I didn’t vote for it. It was poor public policy to deal with the water and sewer and to deal with the budget crisis but he was more visible, the mayor, during those negotiations.”
Sharif says there is still much uncertainty regarding the municipal utilities authority and the budget.
“We on Friday introduced the budget. Now, we’re going to schedule immediate budget hearings where department directors come before us and have to defend the amount of money they’re asking to spend.”