Discuss the issues facing Rahway residents. Property taxes, better schools, political leadership, City Hall Management, downtown, and other topics.
People in Rahway need to stay in engaged, not just at election time.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Thank you to all our great supporters.
Great job and I look foward to working with you in the future. We are not done!
On February 19, 2010 Patrick Cassio wrote the following analysis pertaining to the political entrenchment that permeates the city of Rahway.
"Accountability
No checks and balances from the city council. Rahway has the Falkner form of government and the council controls the purse strings, just like Congress. Yet every council member is a democrat either with a public job or has a family member with one. The mayor's agenda gets passed every time and every appropriation is given to his administration. No government on any level can sustain this system of spending.
Spending/Taxes/Debt
The city of Rahway's FY 2010 operating budget (basic services) grew by 7 million dollars since this Mayor was reelected 4 years ago. It grew from about 25 million dollars to 32 million dollars, that's 17.5%, or 4.25% every year,(not including debt service). That's higher than inflation and shows spending continues uncontrolled while everyone agrees property taxes are choking NJ residents. No effort is made on a monthly basis at meetings to even curb any of the projects and perks this city spends millions on. It starts with a mentality to save the taxpayers money. Obviously that's not a priority. One time gimmicks like leasing the water dept and separating the sewer from the taxes gave quick cash flows into the budget, but the same spending pattern continues unabated with no end in site. The combined debt the taxpayers are responsible for, City, water, and elsewhere, is over 55 million dollars. Debt service in this FY budget is about 8 million dollars. Examples of waste are: 1. Loans still being paid back for original garbage trucks that are now out of service. 2. $450k annual payments for the construction loans of the Library while the two empty floors bring in $20k in taxes. 3. We received 9 million in FEMA money and the construction ended up costing 15 million because of the top two floors added. When Mayor Kennedy was elected in 1990 the entire debt in the city was 9 million. The Rahway Redevelopment Agency has unknown debt that's guaranteed by the taxpayers and most of that debt went to buy properties which in turn were given to developers. Unknown is how much money is outstanding.
Corrupt government
Astronomical salaries, perks, double dipping, no bid contracts, relatives given special treatment, unqualified people in positions, and personal doing repetitive work."
All the above did not just fade into the mist with the election of Rick Proctor. These issues are alive and well and still possess their negative energy. Unless Mayor Proctor addresses these matters by surprising us with a course of action displaying a hidden business acumen, every Rahway taxpayer better secure their wealth and seek shelter.
We ( Rahway Republican Committee) will be having our Annual Christmas/ Holiday party on Thursday Dec 30th at the American Legion Hall on Maple ave @ 7 pm. Buffet and refreshments. We are inviting all our friends and supporters who worked so hard on the election.
No charge, but we are asking people to bring canned goods / dry food for "Food for Friends".
That's on top of the 6% tax hike Mayor Proctor gave Rahway. The School portion will probably go up 6% too. Plus the sewer tax.
HOW MUCH MORE DO THEY ( Democrats running Union County & Rahway) THINK WE CAN TAKE??
BTW Let’s look at some other info concerning Rahway Taxes and the Budget. The City of Rahway had State Aid Cut by $825k as mentioned in the Mayor's letter and the council meeting. But the city also received 450K in NJ DOT Grant money, 90k in Snow Emergency relief. Subtract that from the cut and its 450K loss. Plus 11 police and Firemen retired last year, that probably saving over 750k!
It's funny how no one mentioned any of those facts at the council meeting when discussing taxes and the budget. Only that Christie cut State Aid.
Every Municipality in NJ had State aid cut. But how many get 2.7 million for having Garbage Incinerator? Also where is the 10 million dollars in new ratables we heard about all last year? And the million dollars in property taxes the Hotel/ Condo building is paying?
If those numbers are true, wouldn't that have equaled out the loss of Merck taxes??
I think taxpayers in Rahway are not fooled any more by this Administration and its creative accounting. Tell your friends and neighbors to call their council person or the Mayor . Demand answers on why they keep hiding ALL the information about your property tax bill.
Regarding the county's expected tax increase, as usual, they have put the cart before the horse. The author of the article states that with an expected decrease in revenue, taxes will increase to offset the budget shortfalls. Why a tax increase instead of an elimination of expenses? Not being a proponent of centralization, I ask why six municipalities should combine their police forces into two for the sake of the county? Rather,I propose the abolition of the county police and let the municipal gendarmes take on their duties within each municipal jurisdiction. At the county courthouse, could not privatization of security make up the difference of five new sheriff's office hires? Dare I suggest that five officers be laid off instead? There is a drought in the money tree orchard of the county and, unfortunately, not one of our elected representatives is a water conservationist.
On February 19, 2010 Patrick Cassio wrote the following analysis pertaining to the political entrenchment that permeates the city of Rahway.
ReplyDelete"Accountability
No checks and balances from the city council. Rahway has the Falkner form of government and the council controls the purse strings, just like Congress. Yet every council member is a democrat either with a public job or has a family member with one. The mayor's agenda gets passed every time and every appropriation is given to his administration. No government on any level can sustain this system of spending.
Spending/Taxes/Debt
The city of Rahway's FY 2010 operating budget
(basic services) grew by 7 million dollars since this Mayor was reelected 4 years ago. It grew from about 25 million dollars to 32 million dollars, that's 17.5%, or 4.25% every year,(not including debt service). That's higher than inflation and shows spending continues uncontrolled while everyone agrees property taxes are choking NJ residents. No effort is made on a monthly basis at meetings to even curb any of the projects and perks this city spends millions on. It starts with a mentality to save the taxpayers money. Obviously that's not a priority. One time gimmicks like leasing the water dept and separating the sewer from the taxes gave quick cash flows into the budget, but the same spending pattern continues unabated with no end in site.
The combined debt the taxpayers are responsible for, City, water, and elsewhere, is over 55 million dollars. Debt service in this FY budget is about 8 million dollars. Examples of waste are: 1. Loans still being paid back for original garbage trucks that are now out of service. 2. $450k annual payments for the construction loans of the Library while the two empty floors bring in $20k in taxes. 3. We received 9 million in FEMA money and the construction ended up costing 15 million because of the top two floors added.
When Mayor Kennedy was elected in 1990 the entire debt in the city was 9 million. The Rahway Redevelopment Agency has unknown debt that's guaranteed by the taxpayers and most of that debt went to buy properties which in turn were given to developers. Unknown is how much money is outstanding.
Corrupt government
Astronomical salaries, perks, double dipping, no bid contracts, relatives given special
treatment, unqualified people in positions, and personal doing repetitive work."
All the above did not just fade into the mist with the election of Rick Proctor. These issues are alive and well and still possess their negative energy. Unless Mayor Proctor addresses these matters by surprising us with a course of action displaying a hidden business acumen, every Rahway taxpayer better secure their wealth and seek shelter.
Tom McGuire
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.
ReplyDeleteWe ( Rahway Republican Committee) will be having our Annual Christmas/ Holiday party on Thursday Dec 30th at the American Legion Hall on Maple ave @ 7 pm. Buffet and refreshments.
We are inviting all our friends and supporters who worked so hard on the election.
No charge, but we are asking people to bring canned goods / dry food for "Food for Friends".
Call 732-388-7671 to RSVP by 12-27
Proposed Union County budget would increase county portion of property taxes by 6 percent
ReplyDeletendex.ssf/2011/03/union_county_budget_would_incr.html
That's on top of the 6% tax hike Mayor Proctor gave Rahway. The School portion will probably go up 6% too. Plus the sewer tax.
HOW MUCH MORE DO THEY ( Democrats running Union County & Rahway) THINK WE CAN TAKE??
BTW
Let’s look at some other info concerning Rahway Taxes and the Budget.
The City of Rahway had State Aid Cut by $825k as mentioned in the Mayor's letter and the council meeting. But the city also received 450K in NJ DOT Grant money, 90k in Snow Emergency relief. Subtract that from the cut and its 450K loss. Plus 11 police and Firemen retired last year, that probably saving over 750k!
It's funny how no one mentioned any of those facts at the council meeting when discussing taxes and the budget. Only that Christie cut State Aid.
Every Municipality in NJ had State aid cut.
But how many get 2.7 million for having Garbage Incinerator?
Also where is the 10 million dollars in new ratables we heard about all last year?
And the million dollars in property taxes the Hotel/ Condo building is paying?
If those numbers are true, wouldn't that have equaled out the loss of Merck taxes??
I think taxpayers in Rahway are not fooled any more by this Administration and its creative accounting.
Tell your friends and neighbors to call their council person or the Mayor .
Demand answers on why they keep hiding ALL the information about your property tax bill.
Regarding the county's expected tax increase, as usual, they have put the cart before the horse. The author of the article states that with an expected decrease in revenue, taxes will increase to offset the budget shortfalls. Why a tax increase instead of an elimination of expenses? Not being a proponent of centralization, I ask why six municipalities should combine their police forces into two for the sake of the county? Rather,I propose the abolition of the county police and let the municipal gendarmes take on their duties within each municipal jurisdiction. At the county courthouse, could not privatization of security make up the difference of five new sheriff's office hires? Dare I suggest that five officers be laid off instead? There is a drought in the money tree orchard of the county and, unfortunately, not one of our elected representatives is a water conservationist.
ReplyDeleteTom McGuire