Resident says he will remember tax increase

Upon his unveiling of the 2007 budget a few weeks ago, Jackson Mayor Mayor Seda was all smiles. Shortly after he was asked by a reporter how he felt about the new budget, his reply was "No increase for this year." He was then asked about the historic 32 percent tax increase he levied last September on the town. Mayor Seda stated on record that it was "a one-time pain." That was his only explanation for a hammer-in-the-head 32 percent tax increase that netted our town 0 percent in terms of increased or improved municipal services.

We were also told that evening that in order to save money, measures would be taken. Ten township employees would be laid off. I thought maybe it would be the six new Department of Public Works employees recently hired as political patronage plus four other not-so-party-related people.

But it turned out to be the building department where the layoffs came from. But wait, the building department funds itself. It's a money maker for the town just on building fees. So tell us Mark, what savings are you talking about?

The police department was next on the list. What happened to the promise of hiring new officers? The police department had requested a K-9 unit and made an outstanding presentation to all in attendance, then appealed to the Township Council and mayor. No again; so much for promises there as well. Another painful cut not only to the residents, but to the safety and well being of our police officers. So go ahead, Mr. Mayor, and risk the chance of endangering our officers and by doing so limit further their ability to provide a safer environment for us all.

So what was done to relieve the tax burden, Mayor Seda? Absolutely nothing was done! You have now been in office for a significant amount of time. What happened to your promise to find out and cut the unnecessary spending that you stated was done by prior administrations? And that was the reason you made clear for raising our taxes, you know, that 32 percent "one-time pain."

Now do other council members have anything to say? What happened to Councilwoman Emily Ingram's promise to take a sharp pencil and thick eraser to the budget? What happened to Councilman Jason Gudaitis' promise to uncover all the alleged "fraud" of the prior administrations that supposedly caused this "one-time pain?" Truth be told, all Gudaitis is is a "yes" man. Every one of his votes has been a "yes." As a matter of record all of the council's votes, including council President Angelo Stallone, have been a "yes" to the mayor. Not one "no" vote from anyone on the council to date - that is disgraceful!

Now that all of the raises have been given not only to the mayor, but his close friends, are finished, the mayor and council should get down to telling the truth. Enough patting each other on the back already, it's time to take a good hard look at what the town really needs.

Not one of the council members, never mind the mayor, mention even one of the dirty little secrets in this year's budget. As of the end of 2006 you reported a surplus of $7,173,574. So, in layman's terms, you took in over $7 million more than you needed. In addition, you reported over $3 million in revenue you appropriated last year that you did not spend. Add the two items, and that is $10 million you have taken from Jackson taxpayers that you did not need.

What Jackson is in need of is some honesty and straight talk. Last year's historic 32 percent tax increase that was called a "one-time pain" was actually a scam to grab all the taxpayer cash you could right after you took office. The game plan was to blame everyone before you and bad mouth them for as long as you could to hide your real goal. And that is to use our "one-time pain," aka the historic 32 percent tax increase, to prepay three, maybe four years worth on nonstop spending increases. There is no tax stability this year, Mr. Mayor. It's all smoke and mirrors. It's simple - we prepaid last year, this year and next year.

Politicians depend on the people to forget and unfortunately most of the voters do. I myself, and I am quite sure the taxpayers of Jackson, that have incurred this 32 percent "one-time pain" most definitely will not.

Michael Reina

Jackson