In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue facing Hopewell Township?
By Ruth Luse
On Nov. 7, Hopewell Township voters will pick one member of the Hopewell Township Committee.
Candidates for the three-year term are Mike Chipowsky (Republican) and David Sandahl (incumbent Democrat).
The HVN recently asked the two candidates this question: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue facing Hopewell Township? Please identify it and discuss what you would try to do about it if elected. Be as specific as you can.
Candidates’ answers are:
Mr. Chipowsky Hopewell Township is at a pivotal crossroads. We must balance growth in our community while preserving open space, bolstering agricultural areas, and maintaining the rural character of the township. I think most citizens would agree with me that the unique beauty of the farmlands and open space of our community helps make it such an attractive area for families and small businesses.
The task must be accomplished while remaining ever mindful of the tax burden our residents shoulder. It pains me to think of lifelong residents forced to sell their homes and leave our community just as they reach retirement age, because of the ballooning tax bills, and the inability to remain able to pay those bills on a fixed income. I understand that the phenomenon of sky-rocketing property taxes is not limited to Hopewell Township, but is a statewide issue; however, it is imperative that local leaders make sure not one cent of tax money is wasted on frivolous spending. We must remain cognizant that tax revenue is not the Township Committee’s money to throw at whatever project catches their fancy. It is the taxpayers’ money, to be spent responsibly to further goals that will benefit all of us.
While some growth is inevitable, a lack of public water, a limited supply of natural ground water, and little public sewer service should keep massive development in check. Simply put, our area is not meant to support development on a grand scale. We are limited by the natural resources we have, and must remain vigilant protectors of the environment and those resources we draw from it. However, while preserving open space, we must consider that every acre of space the township purchases is no longer part of our tax base. I support open space initiatives, but the purchases must be maintained so all residents can enjoy it. We must carefully crunch the numbers and balance the desire to maintain as much open space as possible with the necessity of remaining financially afloat.
If elected I would work my hardest to maintain the community that we have today and to control the tax burden by making sure that there is no waste in the portion of the budget that is controlled by the Township Committee. While only 12 percent of the budget is under the direct control of the committee, that amounts to $18 million. I understand that the township budget does not present a great deal of wiggle room. However, I vow to be a constant watchdog over these funds, and to ensure that the revenue is put to its most valuable use. I have proudly served this community for the last 35 years, and have been lucky enough to raise my family in my hometown. I have patrolled the streets of this township, watched generations of children grow up, and dedicated my life to a place I am proud to call home.
Mr. Sandahl The most pressing question we face is how to control the costs of government to provide property tax relief. The New Jersey property tax system puts an unfair burden on homeowners, and is driving business and residents to move to other states.
Our first responsibility as a local government is to prudently manage our services and programs. This is complicated by the fact that well over half of our budget (58 percent) is shaped by federal and state mandates, with the next 17 percent going to our Police Department and the next 9 percent going Public Works, with 4 percent for the fuel and maintenance required for our vehicles.
Everything else programs for seniors and for recreation, capital improvements, legal defenseadds up to about 2 percent of the property taxes Hopewell Township residents pay. Most of the money raised in Hopewell Township actually goes to entities not controlled by the Township Committee, such as the regional schools and Mercer County, which together consume 84 percent of local property taxes.
In the past three years, we have tightened local government spending controls, eliminated unnecessary expenses, removed layers of management, and reduced the number of employees on the public payroll. We have also expanded shared services agreements, inviting neighboring towns to share the costs of services that reduce the burden on Hopewell Township taxpayers.
I believe we can find more savings through more aggressive use of shared services. I have never understood why we have two police forces, three departments of public works, three tax assessors, three tax collectors, three municipal clerks, three chief financial officers, three municipal attorneys, and three municipal engineers to serve the towns in Hopewell Valley.
Consolidation under the current burdensome state laws is not possible, but as relationships have improved between Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, and Pennington Borough, we can jointly find opportunities for additional savings for our taxpayers through shared services.
We must also look to partnerships with other government agencies, such as Mercer County and the State of New Jersey, to seek grants for municipal purposes. Improvements like sidewalks and playing fields can be financed with these sources, reducing the burden on local taxpayers. The Lawrence-Hopewell Trail is a good example of a creative partnership to build a 20+ mile bicycling and walking trail using mostly private and donated funds, but benefiting the residents of our town and neighboring towns.
The next potential area of savings is with public schools, which consume 58 percent of the property taxes raised from Hopewell Township taxpayers. Just as the Township Committee scrutinizes every spending line item to eliminate unnecessary items and economize on others, I believe taxpayers expect the same of the school board. We may also be able to help the schools economize by developing shared services agreements that reduce duplication and costs through programs like shared purchases, snow removal, and repairs.
As former Sen. Bill Schluter has said many times, to get real property tax reform, we need action at the state level, either by the State Legislature or a Constitutional Convention. In the meantime, we must continue to be aggressive in controlling the costs of local government.

