Former Brick Councilman: Campaign Promises Broken

The following is a Letter to the Editor sent by former Brick Township Councilman Michael Thulen:

After Tuesday night’s , I went back to the Democratic Campaign website (http://www.stopacropolis.com) that is still up for all of Brick to see for themselves.  The following is straight off their home page.

Said Ducey, “This November, the key issue in Brick will be fiscal responsibility.  Our town’s residents are tired of the Acropolis team’s waste, mismanagement and cronyism that led to an unprecedented 24% increase in property taxes this year.  The tax increase is outrageous, especially in this difficult economy.”

The other nominees on the Democratic slate echoed Ducey’s concerns.  Susan Lydecker, the overall top vote getter, said, “Our town is too important to be left to politicians who care more about their own salaries and self interests than about the residents of Brick.”

Jim Fozman, a small business owner, said, “Keeping Brick affordable for our residents and small businesses is my number one priority.”

Bob Moore, a volunteer firefighter and plumbing manager, said, “Property taxes have to be kept under control. The Acropolis team has failed miserably on that front.”

After reading their advertisements and hearing these people talk through out the campaign and while they have been council people, I am outraged.  These people said anything to get elected; and have either followed the exact same plan started by the previous council or have changed their language to suit their personal needs. 

Waste and mismanagement:

The budget voted on last Tuesday night by the council had very little change form the year before and if the referendum increase were not already available to them there certainly would have been a tax increase this year.  (Where is their fiscal responsibility?)

Self Interests:

Each of the new councilpersons has chosen form a Chinese menu what benefits or perks they will take for themselves, some take a salary, some take the health benefits, and who knows which is taking a pension.  (Where is the ethical responsibility?)

Priorities:

Mr. Fozman’s first comment Tuesday night (Chairman of the Business and Finance Committee) with regards to the budget was that we have to raise taxes. Watch the video of the council meeting. (What happened to the first priority?)

Can we live with this budget, yes?  Could their have been a tax cut, yes.  The council has taken the million dollars from the BTMUA and put it in the surplus fund this year.  This million dollars of revenue could have been used in the operating budget this year and a tax cut would have been realized without changing any of the services in the township.  The Democrats have shown their stripes already, no tax increase this year and a 2% minimum increase next year.  Last year during the budget season I said we would be good for a couple of years if the referendum passed, it seems predictions are coming true.

The Brick Township Council's main job and responsibility is to approve or create a budget.  This is why I have watched them so closely since the new crew has gotten into office.  The council president confirmed this Tuesday night stating the meetings would be cut back the rest of the year, because the main work has been done.  I will continue to watch and make comments as the year continues, but I believe most of the damage has been done until budget season starts again in December of this year.