CAMPAIGN CORNER by Mike Vanderbeck: If the revitalization project is to move into its next phase, a way to fund it has to be found.
Hightstown is small-town America, with all the positive images you would expect in a small community, including local parades, a proud volunteer fire department and first aiders, and a downtown within easy walking distance. Hightstown continues to reflect the changing demographics around us, a rich mixing pot of cultures. I chose to move here 16 years ago for the very same reasons people consider living in Hightstown today, seeking a sense of community and connection. I have been involved in the community for most of those 16 years and now seek to be your mayor.
Over the years, many mayors and council members have not only fought decay of the borough, but have also initiated gradual improvements that continue today. We are at the beginning of an exciting new process of restoring Hightstown’s former glory to its downtown center. But just as once-vibrant downtowns do not decline and fall into disrepair overnight, they do not spring into pedestrian-friendly gathering places under one or two administrations. I am proud to have played a role in the process so far; however, it is the long-term collective effort of the community, both public and private, that is most responsible for a successful revitalization. There are no quick fixes.
When I first came to serve on our council in 1999, the borough had banked $350,000 from a special legislative grant, but had no detailed plan for how best to use this fund. Over these last three years and after more than 100 early-morning meetings (and I did not miss a single one), followed by a communitywide effort, we now have a solid plan and we all look forward to its eventual implementation.
Couldn’t we just all be happy that revitalization with all its potential positive effects is almost a reality? No, our concern should be at a much higher level than ever before how do we maintain this effort and manage to pay for it. Indeed, while this is an exciting step toward renewing the life of our town, contrary to what some believe, a successful downtown revitalization effort does not add to our tax base, at least not directly and immediately. What it does do is protect and strengthen the existing tax base.
But we should not forget that the initial phase of the revitalization with the majority of the cost paid by our local tax dollars will increase taxes next year, when we begin to service the new debt not covered by grants. That is why we have to aggressively pursue every opportunity, which may help us to reduce or at least stabilize our taxes and to afford the next stage of revitalization. Let me repeat it, as it is a key to why I run for mayor: We have to proactively and tirelessly seek the opportunities to stabilize the taxes if we want to keep Hightstown a pleasant, unique, revitalized and affordable place to live for all, not just for some. And I know we can do better.
Phase two of the revitalization cannot begin without an adequate funding plan. As we now know, we will need tens of thousands of dollars in engineering costs just to begin planning the next phase. The mayor suggests asking for state aid, which certainly is a place to start. I am not at all ruling out this opportunity, but no matter how aggressively we seek state aid, this plan borders on fantasy. In a fiscal crisis such as the one New Jersey currently faces, significant aid will be reserved for truly destitute municipalities, such as Camden, Newark, Paterson and the like. Clearly, we need a more realistic plan for funding the revitalization process.
Given the opportunity to serve as Hightstown’s mayor, I will look to foster private and public partnerships to help fund future revitalization efforts. I will advance relationships with our business community, as well as with our surrounding municipal communities there are a lot of opportunities, which should be carefully negotiated and not overlooked. I will continue to be a tenacious advocate for the borough and fight for our fair share of grant money and state aid. I am committed to protecting the future of Hightstown and to work day and night for it.
Finally, I recognize that our residents regard the issue of shared services with some trepidation, and I share their concern there should not be shared services unless it is beneficial for all the parties involved. And I am as well-committed to preserving Hightstown’s identity as a borough. However, I also recognize the benefits of our existing shared services and interlocal agreements. Some examples include sharing health services with West Windsor, dispatching services with Cranbury, senior citizen services with East Windsor Township and grounds maintenance with East Windsor Regional School District. My efforts to cooperate with Roosevelt, Millstone and Jamesburg also offer much promise. I plan to expand on this cost-reduction approach, without compromising our identity as a distinct municipality. Mutually beneficial persistent communication and negotiation this is the avenue I will relentlessly pursue as your mayor.
Hightstown has a unique history and as a "donut-hole" community we have unique problems. We need a multi-layered approach to find strategic solutions and we cannot continue to rely on the hope for state aid that may never come. Hightstown cannot operate as an island unto itself and we need better communication and stronger relations with the communities around us. This demands hard work and our residents are entitled to a mayor who can and does work that hard to advocate effectively for the needs of this town.
I ask for the opportunity to be your mayor because I am passionately committed to helping fulfill the promise of Hightstown’s greater future.
Mike Vanderbeck is a Democrat and president of the Borough Council. He is a candidate in the Democratic primary election for mayor.