David M. Del Vecchio
mayor, Lambertville
I write to respond to Kenny Crandall’s letter to the editor, “Why so fast,” in which Mr. Crandall asks why overall property taxes have increased so substantially over the past 10 years or so.
First, it is important to understand that more than 4-out-of-every-5 dollars of a Lambertville resident’s property tax bill goes for school, county, fire and open space taxes. Only approximately 15 percent of the tax bill is the city’s portion used for city services.
I am pleased to report that despite precipitous declines in state aid and a stalled economy, on the city level, we have been able to hold the line on taxes. This year, the average Lambertville taxpayer will only pay $6 more for city services than he or she did last year.
Through sound long-term economic planning, including delivering services more cost-effectively through shared-service agreements and reducing energy costs through conservation measures and pooled energy purchased, we have outperformed most New Jersey municipalities in limiting tax increases.
In addition, the city’s stellar Recycling Program changed from a bi-weekly collection to a weekly collection beginning Jan. 1 of 2012. After the first half of 2012, the Public Works Department reported a savings in garbage of 96 tons and an increase in our recycling numbers of 80 tons. This is a savings of over $7,000.
The large unfunded liabilities that remain at the state level, including pension and health care costs for retirees and deferred infrastructure costs, mean that state aid is likely to continue to decline, continuing to put upward pressure on property taxes.
As a result, the tough fiscal climate for local governments is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
In Lambertville, we will continue to work hard every day to make the prudent fiscal decisions that these hard times require.
