This is an important election year — and not just in the national arena.

Republican and Democratic candidates in our towns are running largely unopposed in the June primaries. But come November, most towns will have Democrats and two Republicans squaring off for terms on their respective councils.

While voter turnout for local municipal elections has historically been low, we hope that voters will pay attention to what’s at stake this year. Serious issues are all on the table.

Last week, the weekly editors of North Jersey Media Group were invited to a meeting with Gov. Jon Corzine at The Record building in Hackensack. Corzine presented the challenges the state faces in establishing a new budget and we were encouraged to ask questions.

Up close and personal, the governor was impressive, his CEO background evident in his no-nonsense position that tough decisions must be made to pull New Jersey out of its financial quagmire. He even dared to say that we are indeed in a "recession," a word that most politicians are loath to admit.

"We have long since gone by the threshold where we can borrow," Corzine said. "We have to have cash flow in equal cash flow out."

Corzine stressed that the cuts and consolidations that have been made or are in the process of being made at the state level should be mirrored at the municipal level, especially when it comes to shared services. He admitted that in a state with a long tradition of home rule, proposals like consolidating police departments or even school administrative positions are not popular suggestions, but the financial health of our communities ultimately depends on a creative, eyes-wide-open, approach.

Our towns have taken some steps toward money-saving initiatives. But more can be done. And more must be done.

Even before the meeting with the governor, we were well aware that because belts will have to be tightened at all levels of government, the ability to make difficult, perhaps unpopular choices is what’s required of our local elected officials. With this in mind, we will in the coming months ask our council candidates to address specific issues in their boroughs. We also urge all voters to get to know their candidates and make informed decisions.

The elections might be months away, but the decision that voters make at the polls in November is too important to procrastinate on.