Candidate says his party can offer ‘better way’
Richard Onderko, running to reclaim a Borough Council seat he lost last November, said in a campaign statement that the borough has lost more than $1 million in revenue through property tax appeals in the last three years.
He said he sees those appeals as attempts by people to lower their property taxes.
”However there is a better way to go about achieving this for all taxpayers, not just the ones that take the time to appeal,” he said.
”Our town’s budget has lost well over 1 million dollars of revenue by recent appeals filed and successfully granted,” he said. “The truth is this lost revenue will cause higher property taxes for everyone down the road. A much better way is to elect the right people for the job of lowering property taxes.”
Mr. Onderko, a Republican, said last year Mayor Angelo Corradino, a Democrat, cast the deciding vote to raise everyone’s property taxes, “then turned around and appealed his own reducing his tax bill significantly,” said Mr. Onderko.
”That is not the proper leadership to bring property tax relief to every taxpayer in Manville. We are honored to have the only mayor in Somerset County appeal his property tax bill.”
Mr. Onderko charged that the mayor then raised taxes this year when he pushed for a $1.3 million bond issuance.
”Adding even more Democrats to Manville’s council will continue this mode of operation,” Mr. Onderko said.
In contrast, he said he and running mate Councilwoman Susan Asher will apply for transitional state aid from the governor’s office to help balance future budgets, based on reversing “costly policies.”
”Proper oversight of our spending practices would not have allowed a $1.3 million bond issuance which pushed Manville further in debt. We deserve state aid as a town that incurs flood-related expenses that are out of our control. Bound Brook received such aid but Manville does not even apply,” he said.