This letter is in response to your March 21 article regarding the Manalapan Township Committee’s indication that it may raise taxes by roughly 16 cents per $100 of assessed home value (“Residents May See Hike in Municipal Tax Bill”). My question is, “Where is all the money going?”
I have been a resident of Manalapan for 12 years and have seen taxes increase almost every year. One would think that an increase in the tax base would translate into some kind of additional services being provided to township residents, but such is not the case in Manalapan.
For instance, the township is not hiring many new police officers, it is not providing any new or unique services to its residents, and its winter road maintenance is virtually non-existent. In fact, snow removal gets worse with each passing year, leaving roads in dangerous conditions even after a very small accumulation of snow.
How can the five committee members continue to justify almost yearly tax increases while it provides few services in return? Instead of trying to build a $10 million addition to the recreation center that only a minority of the residents will use, why not try to improve the quality of life within the township? Does the committee realize that if it keeps going at its current rate, the tax-to-service ratio will be so disproportionate that it will eventually drive people away?
I would not be so concerned about the township’s financial matters if I felt as if I were receiving something in return; however, after seeing taxes increase consistently all while seeing the corresponding services decrease at the same time, I feel as if the township is mismanaging its residents’ tax dollars.
Maybe instead of constantly fighting with each other, the Township Committee members can actually do something constructive to make Manalapan live up to its slogan of “being a great place to live.” Otherwise, I’ll keep in mind that it’s a little over seven months until Election Day.
Daniel Bennett
Manalapan