This Election Day, Nov. 6, Hillsborough voters can vote on the change of government Ballot Question 5.
Anthony Ferrera, Mayor; Lisa Nisivoccia, Deputy Mayor; Carl Suraci, Bob Wagner, Township Committee
We believe a no vote is in the best interest of Hillsborough property taxpayers. Why?
A yes vote means changing to a larger, more costly mayor/council government that has resulted in double digit property tax increases in other communities that have made that change recently.
It is a documented fact that throughout New Jersey mayor/council governments hire more staff, pay higher salaries to elected politicians, and expand the size of the local government due to “horse trading” and favors between the politicians.
Even the Charter Commission itself acknowledges that Question 5 will result in “more complex-larger government” for Hillsborough (page 22, Charter Report).
A no vote means maintaining the current form of government which has proven itself to be fiscally prudent through the achievement of no municipal tax increases in two of the last four years, protecting taxpayers from high debt spending, and controlling the size of your local government.
As you may know, Money Magazine recently chose Hillsborough as the 23rd best community to live in the entire nation. As current Township Committee members, we’re proud that the quality of our local government played a role in the acknowledgement of our community as a great place to live.
With the majority of us voting to place the Charter Study question on the ballot for 2006, and the voters subsequently approving the question, we were all looking forward to the potential of a directly-elected mayor that would involve no cost or tax increases.
Voters across our community are very disappointed in the Charter Study Commission recommending in Question 5 the most costly and expensive form that they could have chosen.
All the information about the costly change is in the commission’s report. We encourage you to read more about the report at the township’s Web site www.hillsborough-nj.org.
It goes without saying that we will honor and respect whatever the outcome of the election, but we thought you deserved to know how strongly we feel about the negative direction Question 5 poses for Hillsborough’s future.
Higher spending, larger government, and higher property taxes will be the result if Question 5 passes. Please join us in voting no on Question 5.