Hamilton Mayor John F. Bencivengo didn’t introduce many new ideas during his annual State of the Township address, but he had more than enough material talking about already existing issues.

Bencivengo started his Feb. 2 speech at Cedar Gardens to address perhaps the largest obstacle of his term: township finances. He echoed a common refrain of late, telling those gathered for the Hamilton branch of the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon that the township sits on firm financial ground.

Bencivengo, a Republican, pointed to the strides Hamilton has made while wagging a finger at the widening federal deficit thanks to the U.S. government’s economic stimulus plan and the state government’s multi-billion dollar deficit. Among the accomplishments touted by Bencivengo were no increases in township taxes since 2008 and achieving savings by privatizing the ecological facility, reorganizing the police department and bidding out the town’s power contracts.

He said the township achieved nearly $6 million in cost savings during the past two years and ran on a $4.5 million surplus in 2009.

“2009 was the year that we restored our community’s fiscal integrity and financial stability,” Bencivengo said in the address.

Bencivengo singled out economic development as a major key in sustaining that financial standing going forward. In 2009, 49 businesses opened in Hamilton, and the township also conducted a business retention survey to better understand what existing township businesses have experienced.

To keep that momentum, a revision of the township master plan will begin this year. Bencivengo mentioned the proposed arts district in the Bromley neighborhood and redevelopment on Route 33 as a major part of the township’s plans, as is continued development on Route 130. He ordered an audit of all the township’s vacant or seldom-used commercial properties, citing the inventory as necessary to develop an economic plan for the township.

Bencivengo also announced a series of informal breakfast meetings with business leaders he said will lead to dialogue about the township’s economic future.

Republican Councilman Kevin Meara appreciated Bencivengo’s focus on economic development, noting it is an important tool for growing the township while keeping the burden off taxpayers. Meara said government sometimes fails to pay attention to the revenue side of the equation, but it will be key for Hamilton’s government if the township wishes to be successful in 2010.

“2010 is going to be a challenging year, but a good year,” Meara said. “Two years ago, it was difficult because we raised taxes. That was a hard decision. Hopefully, people see it was a justifiable tax increase. This year is going to be challenging. It’s still going to take sound fiscal decisions.”

Republican Councilman Dennis Pone agreed with Meara’s assessment, noting the government has worked the past two years to position itself for success once the economy recovers.

“We still have a couple of tough years ahead,” Pone said. “This is a blueprint, but we have to remind ourselves we’re in a very tough economy right now. When the economy turns around, we’re poised to really take off.”

Bencivengo promised to make decisions with the economy in mind by sharing services and looking for other cost-cutting measures. He has been a proponent of running government like a business, and continued to emphasize the virtues of doing such in his address.

Pone credited Hamilton’s current position to the government-as-business approach. He said the council, mayor and administration have been communicating well because of a shared enthusiasm for the philosophy.

“The council has had that philosophy,” Pone said. “John has taken that and run with it.”

Bencivengo scolded the federal government for not following that course by continuing to issue unfunded mandates — programs enacted but not paid for by the federal government. He also thanked new Gov. Chris Christie for promising to stop this practice at the state level.

The focus of the address resonated with Mercer County Freeholder John Cimino, who said the county government has tried to operate in a fashion similar to Hamilton.

“In this economy, people are looking for government to be run effectively and efficiently,” he said. “People should be proud their government provides great services at good cost.”

But Cimino, a Democrat, felt Bencivengo failed to give county government its due in helping Hamilton reach its current financial position. Bencivengo thanked Robbinsville Mayor David Fried and Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer for helping Hamilton, but did not mention the county government in his address.

“Mercer has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to Hamilton,” Cimino said. “I was a little disappointed that wasn’t in there. We’re giving Hamilton taxpayers millions of dollars in services.”

Cimino said the county recently took over the township’s weights and measures department and has provided money for several township projects, like a $500,000 grant to the township for park projects.

Among those projects was a new accessible playground in Veterans Park, something Bencivengo called close to his heart during the speech. Part of the county grant was used for the accessible playground, Bencivengo's aide Dominic DeGregory said, and the whole project, including the equipment and rubber matting, cost $165,000.