Primary Election Tomorrow
By Art Gallagher
While there are some important legislative primaries elsewhere in the state —Democratic heavy weights Senator Ray Lesniak and Assemblyman Joe Cryan could be kicked out of the legislature — primary day is expected to be very quiet in Monmouth County.
Too quiet. On the municipal level one of the major parties is not fielding a full slate of candidates in 24 of 41 towns with elections.
On the legislative level, the biggest question in Monmouth is will former Assemblyman Dan Jacobson file to run for Assembly as an Independent in the 11th legislative district. My guess is that he will not. Rather, I predict Dan will throw the support of his newspaper, the tri-CityNews, behind Republican Mary Pat Angelini and Democrat Marilyn Schlossbach in the November general election.
In the 13th legislative district, the Democrats do not have a candidate for Senate on the ballot. Former Hazlet Mayor Chris Cullen received the Democratic nod at the party convention in April but did not file his petitions. Cullen is expected to get the nomination via write-in ballot.
Republicans are not running full slates for municipal offices in Belmar, Freehold Boro, Lake Como, Manasquan, Roosevelt and Shrewsbury Township.
Democrats are not running full slates in Allentown Boro, Brielle, Colts Neck, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Farmingdale, Interlaken, Little Silver, Millstone, Neptune City, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Girt, Shrewsbury Boro, Union Beach, Upper Freehold and West Long Branch.
Republicans have primary contests in Sea Girt and Interlaken. Democrats have a contest for an unexpired council seat in Highlands.
With so little interest in municipal government, what is is real resistance to consolidating all of these governments?
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Jacobson Said To Be Running For Assembly In The 11th
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Democrats will have a candidate for Senate in 13th
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Art, Do you mean the FULL support of Dan Jacobson’s 90 readers?
Art,
Let me answer your question at the end of your post.
Each town has a different culture, different priorities, different values. I think people like what is different about their town. The fear is you loose that if you merge.
Tinton Falls where I live borders Eatontown, Red Bank, Colts Neck, Middletown and Neptune.
Each one very different in their own way from Tinton Falls. I like Tinton Falls the way it is. That is why I have lived here for 25 years.
That is not to say the other towns are bad but they are different and I don’t think I would support merging with any ofthem because I am confortable with things as they are.
A better question is why should a town have to merge if the majority of residents like things the way they are?
MLaffey,
Do you think the cultural differences of the towns are a function of their governments?
Middletown is a good example of communities that thrive with different cultures yet a larger township government. Leonardo and Belford have a different culture than Lincroft. New Monmouth, Navesink and Port Monmouth all distinct from each other, culturally.
I don’t think towns should merge if the majority of residents like the way things are. But the fact is municipal governments really have very little say in how they run their towns. The state controls most decisions to one degree or another.
There is a great deal of waste and duplication of services and functions.
I think if most residents comprehended how municipal goverment works and what it costs, they would vote with their pocketbooks to reduce costs through consolidation.
Its a loop. Government reflects the community which reinforces the community.
If the Bayshore (I grew uo in Belford BTW and Port Monmouth is not different then Belford and Leonardo) where a seperate town I am willing to guess they would be even more different. There is some merit to your argument that in really big towns you can have neighborhoods with different flavors but I think where the impact of home ru;le is felt the most is in the school systems.
I just personally would not like to take a chance that a merge would change my Town.
Now I have a question for you.
If consolidation would save money why are taxes higher in a big town like Middletown then they are here in Tinton Falls?
MLaffey,
I can’t speak to taxes in Middletown vs Tinton Falls, but I know that my taxes in Middletown are lower than my taxes in Highlands.
Highlands and Tinton Falls have the same CFO. I’m going to ask Steve my Tinton Falls taxes are so much lower than Highlands taxes.
the wheel of opinion turns..I used to be for the “home rule,” “don’t tread on me,” aspect of all 566 towns in NJ staying who/what they are, but now, sad to say, due to the politicians’ egos and the fiefdoms they’ve created and maintain, in nearly every town these days, I feel they have lost the ability to holler “uncle,” and know when to give it up,and finally,merge..like, when it’s a town with one school that costs $9 or 10 mil. just to keep it in the neighborhood, or when we just have to get the newest, shiniest firetruck to polish and ride to the wetdowns in!..we have to accept those days/practices, just can’t be sustained, any more..the people are also at fault: everyone screams they are paying too much, yet no one wants to give up their fav programs, services, their own Fire or Police chiefs, firehouse to hang out in, or the vehicles and equipment the taxpayers fund, to ride around and look “important” in.. so, it’s kind of a hypocrisy on everyone’s part, in many ways.. I agree it ought to be put to a referendum, but the full economics of it have to be clearly explained, as to what any savings in operating costs could be, and how the costs will now be shared, what/who will stay and what/who will go, if they agree to merge, when presenting it to the voters..the NJ League of Munic. is a pretty big org., and they really want things, places, and number of members, etc, plus their annual Nov. A.C. party, to remain the same, so do not see it happening, here..NJ is stuck in its habits and “identities”, and we’re paying big-time, to keep them!..
Art,
In all truthfulness what we should be comparing is tax rates. I have no idea how the tax rates compare. Do you? Is your rate in Highlands higher then your rate in Middletown or are you paying for that great view you have in Highlands?
I don’t know how tax rates compare for Tinton falls as opposed to other towns but it sounds like my friends in other larger towns seem to pay more then I do. Without having done a study it looks to me like bigger does not always equal lower tax rates. It is a lot more complicated then that. I have looked at per pupil costs at different school districts and the larger districts do not seem to have appreciably lower costs.
Assesments also play into peoples perceptions. A lot of people I know that complain their taxes are two high live in houses that are assessed for more then mine.
So somebody who lives in a million dollar house is going to pay more then me yet still get the same services.
All I know is that I live in a 4 bedroom colonial built in the 70’S on a good sized lot.
I get very good services and I am very satisfied with the school system. Based on the cost of living in this part of the country I am getting a decent bang for my tax dollars.
Sure I wouldn’t mind lower taxes but not enough to risk what I like about living in Tinton Falls. Thats just me. I could also understand where people on fixed incomes or who pay for expensive properties (with great views) might have a different viewpoint.
That is why I believe any question of mergers or shared services should be democratic not mandated.
If it’s at all accurate…
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/lpt/gtr10monmouth.pdf
The notables:
DISTRICT — General Tax Rate — Effective Tax Rate
ASBURY PARK CITY — 5.221 — 1.662
HIGHLANDS BORO — 2.823 — 1.886
LONG BRANCH CITY — 1.877 — 1.479
MIDDLETOWN TWP — 1.795 — 1.712
TINTON FALLS BORO — 1.693 — 1.602
I’d say Art should probably think what he’s thinking…. Mike should probably be thinking what he’s thinking…. “Once again” has probably hit the nail on the head.
It would be interesting to get a look at the complete tax picture for different cities, ie, total income taxes paid by residents of a town plus sales taxes, property taxes, gasoline taxes, cig taxes, alcohol taxes, payroll taxes, etc, etc, etc. I wonder if there are enough private businesses in Tinton Falls and/or if money from the part of the Fort that is there to offset some of the costs to residents or if there are a handful of really wealth people who even on a low percentage are paying more total than me in Long Branch.
James,
Thanks for the numbers. You make this blog better, in addition to doing a great job on your own.
Mike,
James gave us the answer. I would have answered that my house in Highlands and my commercial property are assessed with in a few thousand dollars of each other. I think the Middletown property is higher on the tax rolls but my memory could be wrong.
My taxes in Highlands are higher. That I’m sure of.
It seems Tinton Falls is doing a great job. However I got a tip today that I haven’t followed up on. Some emailed saying that in the new police contract the cops clothing allowance is pensionable compensation. I don’t know when or if I will have time to follow up on that to verify or rebut the abuse. Perhaps you would like to follow up on that.
PS….the view is great tonight
Interesting article today in WSJ on this very subject http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304066504576341332888910372.html
Thanks for the link, Mike.
Just curious, I noticed when looking over recent election results, Tinton Falls in 06,08,10 had uncontested local municiple elections AND those elections had an (I) candidate, no (R) or (D) candidates. Are the party committeed just not active there or is there something else going on there? Do you think the lack of hyper-partisan, label-based finger pointing might help that seemingly positive “feeling” you have vs the often negative “feeling” those in partisan towns express, or again, is there something I’m missing and misreading in the election results?
LB is a “non-partisan”/May elections town, but really what have are a bunch of Democrats, or should be Democrats for the way they vote/think/govern — and people in town generally believe our local government is controlled by Democrats — which may account for the negativity/partisan finger pointing here. From what I gather, Highlands and Middletown both also have very public R vs D battles.
Again, just curious if you could help put a finger on what gives that “feel” that you like or dislike your town?