Lakewood Budget Includes 14.4-Cent Tax Increase; Mayor Blames FEMA Decision and State Aid Cuts
Loss of state municipal aid: Coles said Lakewood’s growing population has far outpaced the state’s outdated aid formula, which was created in the 1970s. He noted that Lakewood has grown from about 30,000 residents to more than 150,000, making it one of the largest municipalities in the state, yet it ranks near the bottom in state aid per capita.
The mayor said state officials recognize Lakewood’s efficiency and limited workforce and determined the Township should receive about $25 million in aid instead of the approximately $5 million it currently receives. He said changing the formula requires legislative action, and local representatives have already sponsored legislation in Trenton to address the issue.
Coles added that Lakewood had received $7–8 million in state grants two years ago and expected an increase this year between 9-13 million, but the elimination of those funds created an additional $8 million budget gap.
Tachlis how much will this cost every homeowner
ReplyDelete$144 per 100k assessed value
DeleteThey spent top dollar on snow removal for weeks and hired private contractors on top of the DPW.
ReplyDeleteThey shlepped snow across town before it would have melted and probably paid tripple overtime as long as mo one blamed and criticized the politicians all was good until now when there's no moolah shmoolah
The Township Committee has no one else to blame but themselves. For years, they have been spending taxpayer money at an unsustainable pace while approving millions of dollars in tax abatements for well-connected parties.
ReplyDeleteAs for the snow costs, Lakewood had gone more than a decade without a major blizzard, giving the Township plenty of time to build up reserves for an unexpected storm. One difficult winter should not create such a major financial burden.
The bigger question is: where is all the additional revenue from the massive growth and new construction going? Residents deserve transparency and accountability.
After years of promises about having strong representation in Trenton, why is the Township still facing these financial challenges. The officials responsible should take a hard look at their decisions and be held accountable
The campaign to elect Gottheimer in the primary is now coming back to haunt us. It feels like the elected governor does not feel any responsibility to go out of her way for Lakewood or to address the challenges our community is facing.
ReplyDeleteWe are a joke in Trenton
Thank you Lakewood Vaad
Always everyone else's fault....
ReplyDeleteRemember them wasting money sending special crews to get rid of the snow, on the weekend it finally was MELTING. Quite a waste of money....
As long as the powers that be continue pushing the oilam to vote for the same people year after year while they receive their grants, approvals, and other benefits—the taxpayers they influence will continue paying the price.
ReplyDeleteIs this really “Daas Torah,” or is it negius? Negius affects even chachomim. Meanwhile, these increases hurt everyone, including families already struggling with tuition and other major expenses.
Not even the latter. It's much less.
DeletePER THE MAYOR HIMSELF ITS TIME TO FIX THE FORMULA GO ABA GO
ReplyDeleteThe reason FEMA didn't give New Jersey is because Trump warned Trenton democrats if they make sanctuary cities and blow billions of tax dollars on Illigiles the federal government won't give the funds.
ReplyDeleteRay Coles knows this good and well but it's easier to blame Trump .
New Jersey is paying over a billion for illegals with tax payer money
Thank you Avi Schnall and the Trenton democrats
We all have very short memories how much of the current budget was justified with incremental increases for one time situations this one time blizzard situation justifies them to raise taxes for eternity and next time a one-time situation happens we'll have another increase for some reason these one-time situations never get rolled back
DeleteExcellent point they NEVER lowered taxes even after the reason to increase it was no longer relevant.
DeleteSo you guys voted for this corrupt machine called trump, and are now justifying it?!?!?!?
DeleteTrump is the problem here, how can you not see it?
Why is President Trump the problem?
DeleteGovernor S is the problem.
And by the way, no budget cuts (except from state budget to Lakewood.6
The Lakewood Vaad is responsible they hijacked the community voting power over the years and told us who to vote for pulling out the daas Torah card while never disclosing their negius and financial dealings with these politicians
ReplyDeletePeople will have to give a serious דין וחשבון after 120 for the abuse and theft from the tzibur
i proudly will vote daas Torah/vaad endorsements, period. i wont lose my olam haba for a few bucks
ReplyDeleteI learned the final perek of Sanhedrin and found no hint of a connection between not voting for the benefit of some baalebatim and losing olam haba.
DeleteCould you find it for us?
However, Rosh Hashana 18 tells us that it is quite rare for someone to earn eternal damnation. Many aveiros that we consider extremely strict are not included. If you, or your wife, wears a lacetop sheitel, olam haba is still guaranteed. But a public official who uses his position for personal benefit may not be as fortunate.
We need to keep the message short and sweet, how many properties have tax abatements/ free land( they just granted chemed a huge valuable piece of for peanuts) how much were they worth? That big round number needs to be publicized all over. These high-handed politicians don't even feel the need to explain themselves
ReplyDelete