Wednesday night, the library board hosted the first half of its second annual ‘Meet the Candidates’ Night.

Four of the five candidates running for three seats on the Mahwah township council gave introductions and answered five questions at the event.

In the videos are the candidates' answers to: Considering the state-mandated 2% tax cap, can you list three areas of expense reduction you would support? Please also discuss any ideas you have for increasing revenue to the township.

Here are the highlights of the candidates' answers:

John Roth

• Look at every department’s budget and cut or reduce “nice to haves,” as opposed to “must haves”
• Reevaluate overtime expenses
• Support non-tax related revenue initiatives
• Promote shared services for non-core functions between the Board of Education and the township government

Jonathan Marcus

• Can no longer balance budget using the surplus money
• Evaluate union contracts currently being negotiated
• Take fresh look at how we conduct business in town, like private sector has
• Can’t have any sacred cows
• Create future-looking capital plan for every department
• Become a provider of services to other towns

Steve Sbarra

• Labor is most expensive, ask department heads to come in at 2% decrease in operating budget over last year
• Eliminate overtime where possible
• Don’t replace workers who retire
• Eliminate “the little things” that are wasteful, like sending certified letters to municipal candidates
• Attract businesses to come to town by promoting low tax rate, rent out empty storefronts

Lisa DiGiulio

• Use current contract negotiations as opportunity to save money, no raises
• Restructure departments, get employee analysis of everyone who works for township
• Replace retirees’ jobs with technology
• Market town for businesses and residents to come here
• Still need to maintain services

--

Follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your email inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.