Municipal taxes in North Arlington stay the same while the
local levy increases in Lyndhurst, Rutherford, Garfield, Wood-Ridge and
Carlstadt!
Massa Administration keeps taxes & spending in
check, fixes the mess left behind after two decades of GOP control!
NORTH
ARLINGTON - While
taxes rose in Lyndhurst, Carlstadt, Rutherford, Wood-Ridge and Garfield, the
municipal tax rate will stay the same in North Arlington thanks to hard
choices made by the Democratic majority led by Mayor Pete Massa and Council
President Steve Tanelli.
What makes
this accomplishment so impressive is the fact North Arlington balanced it's
books without state aid and reduced the borough's debt obligation nearly
40%!
"Credit
card government that nearly bankrupted North Arlington under Republicans is now
over. Our predecessors who controlled local government not only raised taxes
and increased spending, but left us with a debt that is now finally manageable. It takes discipline and time to undo nearly twenty years of the incompetence
the Kaiser Administration left behind," noted Councilman Al Granell, a
technology executive with United Parcel Service (UPS) and the council's finance
chairman.
"When
one government wastes nearly $45 million dollars in host fees and continues
to raise taxes without a thought about tomorrow, those who now serve are
paying for the sins of the past. Thankfully, the road to fiscal recovery starts
now with a budget that is lean and doesn't raise taxes!" offered Council
President Steve Tanelli, who is a candidate for re-election.
Democrats
not only are boasting a lean budget with no tax increase, but a list of new
initiatives that invest in the future of the community.
"We're taking a hard look at solar for both
the municipality and the schools to cut energy costs. We just passed a new
ordinance monitoring vehicle usage to control gas costs. We're making an
investment in new trees and retaining a suburban image. We have short-term and
long-term objectives and that happens when you start running North Arlington
like a business," said Tanelli, a Third Street homeowner.
Democrats
are looking towards the future in what they're calling a "post EnCap" environment.
"The
sins of the past are being corrected. We beat EnCap, stopped eminent domain seizure and low income housing. We have been diligent in
opposing the new COAH regulations and protecting North Arlington's image as
small, safe and suburban. I'm confident we can move ahead with new plans for
the Meadowlands once this law suit is litigated and the last remnants of the
Kaiser Administration are beaten come the fall campaign," said one Massa
supporter.
"Jimmy
Bocchino and James Herrmann offer nothing but rhetoric they didn't even author. Mr. Herrmann raised taxes time and time again
as a member of the school board as well as the council. He voted to increase
taxes every year he served as an elected official. He was removed from office
by a Bergen County Judge when he was illegally appointed to an unexpired term. The facts don't lie," said another Democrat when asked about the record of
the former councilman.
"Jim Bocchino is the poster child for EnCap. He ushered EnCap into North Arlington as a member of
the now defunct, North Arlington Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Bocchino had no
qualifications to serve on that board but was more than happy to vote
"yes" for Encap's law firm as bond counsel. Jim
Bocchino is a retired patronage hack who will raise taxes and seek counsel from
Len Kaiser. A vote for Jim Bocchino is a vote for Lenny," added another
Democrat after being asked his opinion on the upcoming council race.
