The State of County Govenment

I was out training for a part time job and I had to miss the events of our County Government. Tonite when a local citizen had the nerve to speak up about an issue, she was asked in a condescending way by the most powerful man in our poor county; "How long have you lived in Cumberland County?"
Of course our local media will not report how even SLIGHT dissent is just ignored and dismissed like flies on a dog. Can they check things out and act like a free press in a free country?? I mean most folks do not want to bother to look into this in a recession. Does it take a man with a cheap digital camera and his friends to do the work of the press. I was struck how the media tells us that the "Main Voice of Dissent" is a Democrat on a 7-0 Democratic controlled freeholder board. She is no longer on the board as of Freeholder meeting held Tues Dec 30 2008.
While I and others have concerned ourselves with a man with taxpayer subsidized horse farm, the BIG guy on the Freeholder Board has taken control of all in Cumberland County New Jersey!! He has done it the old fashioned Illinois way with power and intimidation. I will leave it to the more informed to give details. I do know in 2009 that the county government merits watching. As I read earlier this month, our county taxes have gone up...up and up and what do we get from it?? A new courthouse????

Cumberland County's Tax Rate Keeps Rising!

Hello
I was going to chill out on politics but I read a letter to the editor in the Daily Journal and I had to join in. Here are some facts on the ever-increasing tax rate that the County keeps inposing on taxpayers of our county
The county tax rate has steadily increased from 2001 to the present:

Starting in 2001, the rate was $1.041 per $100 of assessed property value. In 2002, it increased 3.3 cents to $1.074.

In 2003, the rate increased 5.8 cents to $1.132.

In 2004, the rate increased 8.4 cents to $1.216.

In 2005, the rate increased 21.7 cents to $1.433.

In 2006, the rate increased 13.3 cents to $1.566. In 2007, the rate increased 12.3 cents to $1.689.

And in 2008, the rate increased 17.2 cents to $1.861.

To put these numbers into a meaningful perspective, I used a property with a net taxable valuation of $100,000. In 2002, the Cumberland County tax payable on this assumed property would be $1,074. Fast forward to 2008. The county tax rate of $1.861 would result in a bill of $1,861 for the property owner. In seven years, the resulting increase of $787 yielded a whopping 73 percent increase.

We need to work together in this county to attend meetings hold our County leaders accountable especially the most powerful man in the County!

They Just don't Get It!

Freeholder Candidates say Tax Relief will come from more Development
I read this headline in today’s Atlantic City Press and just was stunned. Have they not learned ANYTHING from what has happened to the rest of the state?????
This part of the article says it very well!!

"The county budget has nearly doubled in the past four years, rising to more than $80 million after bipartisan budget votes by freeholders. During that time, county coffers ran flush as increased commercial development brought in new tax dollars. However, most municipalities didn't necessarily see financial relief in actual tax dollars during that time. With property values rising, equalization ratios used to determine towns' county tax rates dropped. The result has been that, despite the slow drop of the county apportionment rate, county taxes have risen nearly every year".

Have these folks ever hear of the "ratables chase"
If not here is former Governer Christie Todd Whitman to tell you.

"The ratables chase is the propensity of some local governments to pursue additional property tax revenue through land development, or the addition of tax ratables. Unfortunately, without proper planning these actions frequently result in the addition of services required to support this development which cost more than the revenue generated. The end result is less open space and higher property taxes for the entire community."

I hope the candidates can come up with more holistic and comprehensive solution or our children will have to live in sprawl and higher taxes