Nothing to show for tax increase?

Tara Andrews, Manville
My new tax bill has my property tax going up at nearly 10 percent, far more than the estimated $300 per property.
   I cannot even sell my house for what I am assessed at. This is an outrage as my flood insurance has gone up as well.
   I need to ask, what am I getting for this tax increase? More nothing?
   If the mayor would like to ask what I would like her to do, my reply would be to work, do something.
   Hurricane Floyd was nine years ago and we were hit by a nor’easter last year. One of the mayor’s campaign promises was to see about flood control and the project that is (was) on the table for the Millstone.
   Several of my neighbors have been up to discuss the changes on the Zaraphath property, which is building a makeshift flood wall of debris. They called this mayor several times and to date have not received a call in return. She has passed the buck onto Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke.
   You, Ms. Zuza, are the mayor and responsible for answering to these concerns. You will raise our taxes and do nothing to help or even make some progress for the citizens. I would sure like to go to work, and do nothing and still collect my pay.
   I do understand that you need to cut costs. One of my gripes is the use of borough vehicles — I agree that there is a need for a vehicle to be available for business usage, but not to go to and from work.
   We, the taxpayers, pay for the gas, lease, registration and insurance costs of the vehicles. Make better use of them. I have to pay for my own gas (and not write it off) to go to and from work and my own car payments as well.
   No employee should be doing any different. Take these away and you can ease a little of the burden on the taxpayers.
   There are many, many little things you could change to help the town you swore to work for. You work for the citizens, not the businesses.
   You won’t touch that though, will you? Nope, instead, you’ll take away Community Day, a day that the residents of this town came to look forward to. No way, Community Day will take away money spent on gas for the vehicles for people to get to and from work in the town vehicles.
   There is no sense of community anymore and I can see why. The mayor that wanted to be elected so badly, does nothing for us.
   I have gotten to the point of being disgusted to live here, but have no choice as no one will buy my house, and honestly I don’t blame them. I tell them we were hit by flooding and can’t even counter that with a “however, xyz is being done to prevent that in the future.”
   I can’t even claim how Manville is such a nice place to live. I have to say, “We’ve been flooded in the past and no there isn’t anything being done and the taxes are up almost 10 percent for next year.” Would anyone want that? I think not, and I don’t even want it anymore.
   Wake up and go to work today, Ms. Mayor, for the people you wanted to work for. You wanted to be elected, and you were, now do what’s right for this town or continue to see it go downhill as it’s been.
   If that’s the legacy you want to leave, then so be it. I, for one, find it sickening.
Tara Andrews
Manville 