Friday, March 28, 2008

Edgewater Park News

Pay Up "I need to spend your money to make money" Quote from Committeeman Tom Pullion's Bee Article several years ago.

The Sewer Authority is moving from the Municipal Building because the Township Committee and Administrator/Clerk want the space for the Mayor's Office. This will increase the Operation cost to the authority and will require the Authority to raise sewer rates. 

The Township will lose the $12,000 dollars in income which represents a little less than 1/2¢ on the tax rate. Does this decision, represent good finical management during a year when the Committee is going to raise taxes 18¢ to 28¢ per $100 dollars of assessment? 

Now local taxpayers are facing a huge increase in the Municipal Tax, an increase of 8¢ on the School Tax and on top of these increases your Sewer Tax will increase. The only tax that is decreasing is the County Tax. The Fire Tax is staying the same. The same group (Edgewater Park Royal Families) is running the Sewer Authority.

The Township Committee held the first Budget meeting that was open to the Public this past Tuesday, and guess what, they are blaming everyone else for the increase in taxes. 

Instead of blaming others, why didn't Committee start working on cutting cost, late last year when they knew the State was cutting aid. This is example of the botched job Committee has done along with the Administrator/Clerk, managing our Township. 

Just adding an insult to our tax increase, this Township Committee has borrowed an additional $1,000,000 (million) dollars (Bonds) in borrowing just this past year. Ask the Mayor how much borrowing, has the Township has done during her term of office. She probably doesn't know, but after reading this Blog she will get the answer.  

Talk about "the Mortgage," and it now looks like because of all the borrowing, the Township will be forced to put any future capital projects on hold (street re-paving, infrastructure repairs), but they are spending tax money to paint, re-carpeting the Municipal Building and will build a new Office for the Mayor. Is this spending necessary during a year when Committee knew the state is cutting aid?

Just remember after you get your new tax bill in July, how hard this Committee and Administrator/Clerk worked to responsibly handle the finances of our Township. Remember how little they care about how their irresponsibly caused your taxes to increase greatly, during a year when you are finding it difficult to pay for the increases in food, gas, utilities and childcare. 

You can make a difference, by attending the Township Budget hearings and expressing you concerns. If they don't listen, repay the favor in November by voting the bums out. It won't change the majority on Committee, but at least there would be two watch dogs on Committee.

Quickly on to another subject, I received a tip that the City of Burlington was trying to force the Main Street Project Board of Directors to hire a "Edgewater Park Committeewoman" as the replacement director. I was told that the Board politely told the Burlington Mayor and Council to pound sand.

There also are changes at the Sewer Authority. I understand that the authority hired a new Acting Administrator, who is according to Authority Board members comments, is also acting as the Authorities Operator, and not the Willingboro MUA. The Acting Administrator/Operator was given a six week contract for $700 dollars per week, according to what I was told. The Authorities Administrator is out on sick leave, also according to comments made to me. I have not been able to get any more information on the illness of the Administrator.

The Edgewater Park Reporter


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why did they hire an acting administrator operator? Isn't there two women in that office? Why didn't they just let her do the job? Hasn't Willingboro been doing the job of the operator? Is it true that they are getting a new office too. Why?

Anonymous said...

The township administrator can't stand that she is not in control of the sewerage authority, and members of the sewerage authority are more concerned with getting back at people than making good decisions for E.P. There lies the problem.

Anonymous said...

A new Mayor's Office?

What a waste of taxpayer funds!

Now we are going to pay twice (township and sewer taxes) so that the Mayor has a room to play her fiddle while the Township of Edgewater Park burns through the tax dollars!

I can't believe they are spending money like this when times are tough... Shame on Mayor Hall.

Anonymous said...

After careful consideration, I think it is time to move. Change is not going to happen in this town, because it is being run by power crazed "little people" that probably can't even balance their own check books, let alone manage a multi-million dollar budget. Besides, who wants to live in a place where the Sewer Authority is the most powerful entity of government? I say, let the crap managers have their way, and let the town be absorbed by a larger better run town. I'm tired of being ripped-off by a town that gives absolutely NOTHING IT RETURN FOR MY HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS!

Anonymous said...

If you are truly concerned about the tax burden, perhaps you should check the assessments on the homes by the river particularly the past two Republican party municipal chairman. Homes with a market value of over a half million dollars that are assessed at $100,000!! More interesting is who did the assessments!!!

Anonymous said...

I thought townships were scheduled for assessments and they are conducted by an outside agency. You can challenge an assessment, right?

Anonymous said...

In reference to the "genius" that thinks that a reassessment will lower their taxes: YOU ARE UNEDUCATED & STUPID. IF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOME IS REASSESSED HIGHER, YOUR HOUSE WILL ALSO BE ASSESSED HIGHER! THE TAX INCREASES IN THIS TOWN HAVE COME FROM A DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE. THE TAX INCREASES IN THIS STATE HAVE COME FROM A DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY, SENATE, AND GOVENORS! SMELL THE COFFEE & WAKE-UP. I JUST LEFT THE PARTY LAST WEEK, BECAUSE I AM SICK OF THE POOR LEADERSHIP (CORZINE, PELOSI,ETC), TAX & SPEND POLICTICS, & IGNORANCE TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON IN THE STATE, COUNTRY & WORLD. YOU SHOULD STAY IN THIS TOWN & STATE, BECAUSE IF YOU A STUPID ENOUGH TO LET YOURSELF GET RIPPED-OFF AND CONNED WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD "THE TRUTH", YOU DESERVE IT!
LEAVE ME YOUR # AND I'LL CALL YOU WHEN I MOVE & LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS PAYING FOR REAL ESTATE, SCHOOL, INCOME TAXES TO THEIR STATES. OH AND DON'T FORGET CAR INSURANCE, HEALTH INSURANCE, INHERITANCE TAX, & FINES FOR PUTTING THE TRASH OUT TOO EARLIER!

Anonymous said...

I just finished reading all 39 comments from the BCT article of "Have a suggestion for the state budget?". Well I do not have one for the state budget because I feel that, as I've always heard, charity begins at home. Well, this is home. This is our home and our town. I suggest that Ms. Dougherty forfeit either her administrator’s salary or municipal clerks salary so that an employee does not have to lose his/her job. Another cut would be for the committee and mayor to give up their salaries. And rumor has it that the sewer authority has to move so that the mayor can have an office. $12,000 is nothing to throw away while cuts are being made. Even though $12,000 is a very small portion (almost ½ a cent) of tax revenue, it’s something. Let’s keep that money in the revenue pot.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, Ms.Dougherty worked way too hard to give herself a combined $90,000 salary for clerical work, and there is no chance she is going to give up any part of that STATE PENSIONED position!
Is it still considered stealing if an entire town allows it to happen?