I recently read the guest column by Glenda Grill in the Aug. 15 News Transcript and I could not agree more.
I also remember that the (Marlboro) Democrats promised to cut our municipal taxes by 20 percent in two years, and now four years later our taxes have risen more than 25 percent. I almost fainted when I saw my new tax bill this year. The increase was enormous. Do the Democrats really believe we are all so stupid that we would forget they promised to cut our taxes, not massively increase them?
Fortunately, I can work longer and harder to earn the extra money to pay for this incredible rise in my tax bill. Do the politicians who hit us with this burden care? I do not think so, since four years ago they promised they would cut my taxes 20 percent.
Ms. Grill also raises an important point about our senior citizens, many of whom are on fixed incomes. Many have lived in Marlboro their entire lives.
Where will they get the extra money to pay for those huge tax increases? Will they have to move from their own town because they can no longer afford to pay their tax bills? What will they have to sacrifice to pay for them, if they can? Why didn’t the Democrats create a program to control their taxes instead of looking for ways to spend our money?
Ms. Grill also makes an excellent point about increasing programs and activities for our senior citizens. They receive very little back already for the taxes they pay, and with this massive increase they certainly deserve to receive more benefits and services.
Although I see no problem with elected public officials receiving reasonable compensation for their public service, I am outraged that the Democratic council members took salaries after specifically promising not to accept them in all their campaign literature in their last bid for election. Couldn’t this money have been better spent to reduce seniors’ taxes or the high tax increase?
The Democrats also promised to stop overdevelopment in our town. To say they broke this promise would be the understatement of the century.
Every time I attempt to drive through town, I see a new development springing up. Remember, it is the Township Council who has the final word on zoning, and they have failed us all.
Sitting in traffic has become commonplace; they are making Marlboro like the places we ran away from and moved here for a better and more peaceful and safer life. They have failed us, and all we are left with are their broken promises.
It is time for a change. The current Democratic council has had the opportunity for four years to improve our town and make good on their promises. They feel their greatest accomplishment is the ban on cell phones; I’m sorry, it doesn’t help me pay my tax bills.
Instead, they have given us huge tax increases, overdevelopment and a long list of broken promises. Their broken promises have consequences that will negatively affect the lives of Marlboro’s residents for decades to come.
The Democrats have had their chance and now we need council members who care about our people, keep their word and are capable of managing the problems Marlboro faces in the future. Marlboro needs leaders who will keep their promises.
Jim Collins
Marlboro