Gov. Chris Christie continues to surprise and shock me. Yes, I am a former Republican mayor, who is expected to say nothing bad about our Republican governor, but I cannot help myself.
The latest news of his increasing the amount the state “skims” from the utility tax from 1 or 2 percent to 20 percent is unconscionable. He will no doubt masquerade this as his skillful discovery of additional revenue to offset state spending. But in reality, it’s thievery, pure and simple. This money isn’t his, it belongs to the municipalities. And to learn that state legislators are contemplating creating a law to return the funds to the taxpayer is no solution. During my term, I sought alternatives to digging into the back pockets of our residents, which resulted in a mere 1-cent increase in property taxes across my fouryear term. But had Christie been our governor during that time, this accomplishment, no doubt, wouldn’t have been achieved, because he would have taken money that rightfully and historically belonged to our town.
During a time when bullying is getting so much attention, and anti-bullying laws being introduced wherever we turn, we have a perfect example of a bully in Trenton.
David Spaulding
North Brunswick