The number one issue on the minds of our residents and their elected officials is to control property taxes. The budget I have presented to the Township Council this year is the most austere in the nine years I have been in elected office. Operating expenses have seen no increase over the 2007 budget. Regrettably, this does not equate to no tax increase. Contractual obligations to our employees for raises of approximately 4% are mandatory and standard throughout the state. The burdens of increasing health care, pensions, and social security costs impact our budget without any increase in programs. Although our employees have increased their contribution to the cost of health care, the cost charged by health care providers continues to rise.

The increase in the municipal portion of your property tax bill for the average assessed Bridgewater home this year will be approximately $75. Slightly more than a third of that increase is due to the Governor’s proposed reduction in funding to the Township. There is not a specific program that is not being funded and which could be eliminated, but rather just a reneging on prior agreements while at the same time imposing more and more mandates on the local government.

For instance, courts, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Council on Affordable Housing have created new rules that mandate how many low and moderate income housing units Bridgewater must plan for over the next 10 years - 998 additional units! The impact on our quality of life by increasing development density in the Township, as well as the financial impact to us taxpayers, is outrageous. A significant share of the cost of this development will be passed through to residential and commercial builders. While it is essential that the taxpayers not shoulder this responsibility alone, ultimately the increased costs of doing business in New Jersey are passed on to us, if it does not drive business out of the state altogether. I disagree with the obligation assigned to Bridgewater and am completely committed to fighting this mandate at all levels.

On a lighter note, the Mayor’s Wellness campaign continues in full swing. During April we will have completed the 5K run and Health Awareness Day and in previous months held informational seminars and conducted healthy nature walks. In addition, each month our employees join together to share a healthy lunch, centered on a nutritional theme. The lunches provide camaraderie and bolster individual efforts to try to eat right. You might want to try this at your workplace or with your friends. My thanks to our Health Officer Peter Leung and Human Services Director Chris Poulsen for implementing this program.

Recently a water pipe break caused the evacuation of our senior citizen housing at Centerbridge I & II in the late evening. Thankfully no one was injured and most residents were returned to their homes within 24 hours. What was remarkable was the response to this event. Police officers, volunteer fire, rescue squad and Red Cross members, Bridgewater’s Office of Emergency Management, and public works and senior center employees were on site from 7 p.m. on a Friday evening through 4 a.m. Saturday assisting those residents who were temporarily displaced. The professionalism and willingness to support the community was evident from each individual responder. On behalf of our entire community, I thank each and every responder.

Don’t forget to enjoy the pleasures of spring with a walk through Township or County parks. Be sure to check out Duke Island Park on Old York Road where you can see the carpet of bluebells anywhere you walk through the woods.

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