CHESTERFIELD: Locals protest tax increase

By Christina Whittington, Special Writer
   CHESTERFIELD — More than 100 residents — expressing frustration — crammed into the municipal building on Sept. 12 to protest the recent increase in property taxes.
   The Township Committee meeting room itself was filled to capacity with some residents standing in the nearby hallway. Many residents stood outside listening to the meeting through open windows.
   A member of the audience — who was in the hallway and could not hear the comments very well — at one point suggested the meeting be adjourned to a more suitable venue, to the response of outrage from the majority of those in attendance who took time off from work to make it to the meeting. The meeting continued.
   Many residents expressed their dismay and shock over the 2012 municipal tax increase to Mayor Michael Hlubik and committee members, including Deputy Mayor Richard LoCascio and Committeman Jeremy Liedtka.
   The 2011 municipal tax rate was 5.3 cents. The 2012 municipal tax rate has now been set at 29.5 cents. Folks shared collective concern over the increase.
   For some residents, the new tax rate equated to an increase of $600 or more per quarter.
   ”For a long time our tax rate was very low because we had the revenue, so basically we could afford to pay your taxes for you. We don’t have those revenues anymore. We don’t have the surplus,” Mayor Hlubik said. “Since about 2008 it’s been a lot of rainy days and we kept using our surplus thinking, OK, we’ll get the taxpayers through this and hopefully the economy will improve.”
   The mayor continued, “If you take a look at our budget, it’s a no frills budget, we got a no frills township building, we are not misspending your money,” Mayor Hlubik said.
   Recently, Mayor Hlubik posted a letter regarding the tax increase on the township’s website.
   ”If you look at your tax bills, you will notice that for many years, Chesterfield’s local purpose tax stayed below 10 cents,” he said. “That was because we had a surplus to work with that allowed the Township Committee to underwrite a large portion of the cost of running the township.”
   The mayor said in his letter that taxes were able to rise by more than 2 percent because the municipal tax rate was under 10 cents, making Chesterfield exempt from the state cap requirement.
   Mayor Hlubik then stated that in the future Chesterfield would be limited to the 2 percent cap levy.
   ”After a lot of discussion and calculations, we came up with a budget using only a fraction of the surplus that would give the township financial stability for the future. All of this was explained at the public hearing on the budget at the April 26 Township Committee meeting; however there wasn’t a large group of residents in attendance,” Mayor Hlubik said.
   Yet, that all changed last week.
   ”I am here tonight because I have just received my 2012 tax bill. Needless to say I was very upset with the amount of increase,” resident Frank Van Gelder said.
   Mr. Van Gelder said that he decided to review the township’s financial records to see if such an increase was justified based on the financial resources available for the township.
   ”During my review I came across the financial analysis prepared for the public by the township to explain the need for the substantial tax increase. I believe that this financial analysis is the most deceptive and distorted analysis I have ever seen in my career and my career spans over 40 years,” Mr. Van Gelder continued.
   The township’s accountant did not attend the Sept. 12 meeting.
   ”You sit here tonight and you say we don’t have the ratables. How are we getting money in? Why is it coming from all of us? We have plenty of land, plenty of room. What is the thought process to bringing money in because we are losing it? The economy is bad,” resident Joanne May said, noting that her taxes had increased to $2,000 for the year, and in the most recent quarter increased by $600.
   ”Shame on you to (have us) open a tax bill and see these increases. No one could of prepared me for the sticker shock I just received,” Ms. May stated.
   ”Obviously there is a revenue issue here. That is a tremendous reason why we are where we are today,” Chesterfield resident Michael Marinello said.
   ”The taxes are going to scare away buyers. While the interest and mortgage rates are low — by increasing these taxes you are just going to have empty lots. Who is going to justify spending that much in property taxes?” resident April Fitzpatrick asked.
   A special public committee meeting on this matter was in the process of being scheduled as of press time.
   The next regular Township Committee meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27.