By Christina Whittington, Special Writer
CHESTERFIELD — Residents filled the cafeteria of Chesterfield Elementary School on Oct. 11 to vent their outrage and frustration once again over the recent municipal tax increase they received in their 2012 tax bills.
”This isn’t a public hearing on the taxes,” Mayor Michael Hlubik said. “Obviously, that is going to take place in March. The main reason we set this meeting up is really as an informational meeting to you to let you know where we are coming from.”
The 2011 municipal tax rate was 5.3 cents. The 2012 municipal tax rate was set at 29.5 cents.
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, official said.
At the Sept. 12 Township Committee meeting, more than 100 residents crammed into the municipal building, outraged over the tax increase, which, to some, equated to an increase of $600 or more per quarter.
Demanding answers, the special meeting was scheduled for Oct.11 so the township’s auditor, Jack Maley, could further explain the rationale that led to the increase.
”Jack is our auditor,” the mayor clarified. “He does not set the taxes. He advises us on options that we have with the way we do a tax structure. It’s our decision on how we set the taxes. He can give us options.”
Mr. Maley addressed the audience regarding a contention the budget numbers and financial statements are deceptive and incorrect.
”You should know up front that the budget document and financial statements are presented to the State of New Jersey for acceptance and review,” he said. “They are prepared in accordance to the requirements of the State of New Jersey. These financial statements and this budget has been presented to the state and accepted. The numbers you hear tonight are accurate and good.”
Mr. Maley said the 2012 budget is almost 4.1 million dollars.
”Of that 4.1 million dollars, 3.3 million dollars is attributable to the operating expenses of the budget,” he said. “That sets with a budget increase of about $85,000 from 2011-12. Not a large amount by anybody’s measure.”
Mr. Maley pointed out that the problem with the budget is not on the spending side, but on the revenue side.
”Of those revenue sources, you are still left with 71 percent of the budget to fund after state aid, local taxes, delinquent taxes, so where does this 71 percent come from? Taxation. And any surplus that you have on hand to apply to taxation will reduce the taxes, and, therein, lies the problem,” Mr. Maley said.
It previously was stated at the Sept. 12 meeting by Mayor Hlubik that the reason Chesterfield’s local tax stayed below 10 cents was due to a surplus the township had to work with that allowed the Township Committee to underwrite a large portion of the cost of running the township.
The three-hour meeting meant to be an informative session quickly turned into a lengthy public comment session, which saw residents exhibiting a wide range of emotions from anger, frustration, disbelief, sadness and, at one point, tears.
Township resident Frank Van Gelder said at the Sept. 12 meeting that the financial analysis prepared for the public by the township to explain the need for the substantial tax increase was the most “deceptive and distorted analysis” he has seen in his 40-year career.
He said he believed the township had two separate and distinct problems.
”One is justification for the magnitude of the 2012 tax increase,” he said. “At the very least, this increase should of been spread over a number of years. Personally, a tax increase of 25 cents in one year has placed an undue burden on me and all the residents of the township.”
He said, “The township also needs to clearly define and establish the amount of taxes actually needed to populate this township on a sound financial basis.”
Resident Steve Hazen added, “I moved here in 1997, and my tax rate was lower in 1997, and there was no construction, no hookup (sewer) fees or subsidy fees then so I am just wondering what caused my taxes to go up. If there was no surplus, isn’t it the job of the government get us the surplus?”
Mr. Hazen also wondered why committee members didn’t raise taxes 2 cents a year for the past 10 years if they knew this increase was coming. That brought loud applause and whistles from the crowd.
”We know taxes go up,” Mr. Hazen said. “I mean, we don’t like it, but it’s a fact of life. But 2 cents a year for the past 10 years would’ve put you at 20 cents, which is about where we are at now. It just seems that would’ve been more prudent to do.”
Resident Mike Mills, who has lived in Chesterfield for 28 years and raised all three of his children in the community, spoke about the hardship the tax increase has created for him.
”My current monthly tax burden is now well over $100 a month more than my mortgage payment was when I first moved in, which included my principal, my interest and my property taxes,” he said. “My plan at this point — and it is unfortunate because I have raised all three of my children here — I have no choice. I am going to let someone else pay my property taxes. I can’t afford to live here anymore.”
Resident Gary Traynor said, “I was here at the last meeting, and I have to say . . . the worst thing that you can do now is to get up like everybody is and leave. I was at the last meeting, and we hollered and screamed about taxes, and then everybody left. I stayed ‘til 11:30 p.m., and I saw the board discuss increases to salaries in the Police Department. I was listening and thought to myself, ‘I thought we were in financial crisis.’”
Mr. Traynor encouraged the audience to come to future Township Committee meetings and stay for the duration.
”They are going to do whatever they want, and they did it that night, and I watched it,” he said. “You got to stay, you got to come to the meetings or else they are going to spend our money.”
The township did give its employees and police officers a raise.
”Yes, we did give our employees a raise,” the mayor said. “Yes, we did give our police a raise. However, that was our decision. It’s a decision I made.”
Mayor Hlubik explained that as far as municipal employees go, there are less of them, and they have jumped in to do extra jobs. The township also plans to hire a chief financial officer.
”You are talking about what is a CFO going to cost? Well, I don’t know, but we are not talking millions of dollars,” Mayor Hlubik said.
He said the CFO position will be part-time.
”You will have a CFO in the township,” he said. “Someone that will have a better hold on all of these numbers that you are asking about and be able to give you direct answers on everything that we do because it really isn’t Mr. Maley’s job as an auditor to justify everything that we do. It’s our treasurer and CFO, and those are the people that we are going to depend on to do that.”
Dawn Platz, a 17-year resident, tearfully addressed the committee.
” I have a little cabin on a hill that I raised my children in,” she said. “When I got this assessment, my home went down $63,000. The people that were looking at my home to buy withdrew their offer. I took the house off the market, put it back on the market in July and then got the tax bill. People came through, fell in love with the little cabin on the hill in Chesterfield and just withdrew their offer again. So I am determined to leave. I will reduce the price of my house just because being a single mom, I cannot afford the tax increase, so shame on all of you. Shame on us for not watching you.”
Committeeman Jeremy Liedtka, a lifelong resident, said, “I thought we did the right thing. Based on the numbers I am hearing tonight, I still think we did the right thing. I am sorry for the way it hurts; it hurts everybody. It hurts us. I taxed my friends, I taxed my family, my whole family lives in the township.”
Deputy Mayor Richard LoCascio added, “The budgets that were introduced each of the last two years actually went down on the spending side, but the savings (surplus) have also went down a lot faster.”
Mr. LoCascio also said any surplus must be used more judiciously.
”When the construction starts up again, and we start to generate those fees, we can’t have it burning a hole in our pocket,” he said. “We have to say, ‘let’s spread this out.’ We can’t blow it today and kick the can down the road. I think a lot of times that happens. It happens in Congress, it happens in Trenton, it happens in a lot of towns, it shouldn’t happen here.”
Though nothing can be done this year, residents said they are determined to be involved in budget planning for 2013.
”January, we are going to start discussing the future budget; let’s be proactive,” said resident April Fitzpatrick said.
She suggested budget meetings be held in a larger venue.
”Because I guarantee you, more than 60 people will show up” Ms. Fitzpatrick said.
A budget advisory board also may be created.
”I think what the mayor suggested about creating a budget advisory board is a great idea,” Mr. Maley said. “There were a lot of wonderful and intelligent comments out here about what’s got to be done. Get an advisory board together to meet and discuss with the board.”
Mayor Hlubik said those who would like to be part of the budget advisory board should submit their names to Caryn Hoyer, municipal clerk.
”I think it’s a good idea,” the mayor said. “You have part-time committeeman here so it would help if we had some volunteers.”
Information also will be posted on the township’s website.
” I apologize that this happened the way it did,” the mayor said. “I care about the people of Chesterfield.”
He added, “If you believe I have done this to spite the taxpayers of Chesterfield or to be mean or it was just something that I wanted to do, obviously, I am not going to convince you otherwise, but that’s just not the case.”
The next Township Committee meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25.

