From the issue of March 1, 2007.
Flee New Jersey? Not so fast
To the editor:
In response to a recent editorial, in a staunch Democratic state and town, what do you expect? Democrats love to tax and spend someone else’s money. The state of New Jersey is in a so-called fiscal crisis, yet our millionaire governor can continue to spend money like it grows on trees.
A $27 billion budget two years ago, $30 billion this fiscal year and $33 billion proposed for next fiscal year (with a projected $4 billion deficit, nice, eh?).
Higher taxes? Why not? Money grows on trees, remember.
But next year’s proposed budget contains no new taxes or tax increases? Now that is laughable.
We are one of the few states in the union operating in deficit mode year after year.
Why do you think this is? It is because "tax and spend" doesn’t work. Difficult and unpopular decisions need to be made to cut spending and reduce the debt liability of the New Jersey pension and benefits system that will not help get someone re-elected.
Pension benefits and free health care for life are things of the past in corporate America. Why? Because those benefits have become too expensive for a company to offer and still remain profitable long term. The state of New Jersey needs to follow the lead but it won’t. Why do you think so many residents want to become cops, teachers or state employees these days? This is a vicious tax cycle homeowners are caught up in that won’t end any time soon.
At least for our senior citizens age 65 and older, property tax increases are frozen if certain income requirements are met.
But always remember one thing; money grows on trees in New Jersey to some of our elected officials I guess that is just one of the benefits of living in the "Garden State."
No new taxes or tax increases are present in this year’s budget proposal so it must be true.
Richard Onderko
Manville

