Hamilton Republican Chairman Warns Residents to Beware of Last Minute Budget Gimmick by Mayor Gilmore
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10/30/2007 -
Today, Hamilton Republican Committee Chairman Bruce R. Darvas warned Hamilton's residents to beware of a last minute budget gimmick by Mayor Gilmore that would amount to nothing more than a trick rather than a treat this upcoming Halloween.
"With less than a week to go before Election Day it seems that it is just about time for Mayor Gilmore to present his election year budget gimmick that he has perfected over the last several years in an attempt to win votes, especially since he was taken to task for withholding his budget by the Trenton Times in its endorsement of John Bencivengo for Mayor" said Darvas. "Four years ago the Mayor continually said before the election that he would not increase taxes, only to raise them twice within six months of winning reelection. Last year the Mayor attempted to use $5.7 million of revenue collected for the schools until the state of New Jersey said that he could not do so. And now this year Mayor Gilmore has withheld his budget from the people despite the fact that it was required by law to be presented by August 10," he continued.
"The residents of Hamilton Township should beware over the next several days for Mayor Gilmore to present his budget since it will surely be a budget filled with games and gimmicks designed to get him through the election," Darvas added. "There is a reason why the Mayor has continually delayed presenting his budget and why he has gone so far as to go to court to keep the people from seeing the Annual Financial Statement. That reason is that both the budget and the Annual Financial Statement will reflect a huge tax increase and the Mayor cannot afford such an increase before the election. However, Mayor Gilmore has presented phony budgets before in order to win an election and we should not ignore the possibility that he may present such a budget yet again," he stated.
"Don't be surprised if Mayor Gilmore holds a press conference or issues a press release over the next several days saying that he has put together a lean budget that does more with less. Also don't be surprised if the Mayor says that an increase in ratables has allowed him to once again hold the line on taxes," commented Darvas. "Each of these excuses will be untrue and here is why. According to the Mercer County Board of Taxation the value of ratables in Hamilton Township has increased 8.67% since 2002. However, over that same period of time, municipal spending by the Mayor has increased 12.66%. That means that despite bringing in more money in taxes, Hamilton Township continues to operate with a deficit since Mayor Gilmore has spent more money than he has raised through taxes. This is a financially disastrous path to follow and it is no wonder why taxes have increased 25% since Glen Gilmore became mayor," he continued.
"If Mayor Gilmore presents a budget with any increase in spending you can be sure that taxes must be increased with it and if taxes aren't increased, then the budget is phony and full of gimmicks since an increase in spending without an increase in taxes is virtually impossible under the numbers provided by the Mercer County Board of Taxation," Darvas said. "Additionally, if Mayor Gilmore presents a budget that spends less than last year's, then the people must also be wary since Hamilton Township ran at a deficit last year and must make up that overexpenditure. Short of neglecting things such as funding vehicle maintenance, building maintenance or municipal services such as snow removal this winter, there is no legitimate way for the Mayor to present a lower budget with the existing deficit."
"This election is one of the most important ever in the history of Hamilton Township and we can be sure that Mayor Gilmore will do whatever it takes to win," Darvas stated. "I ask the residents and taxpayers of Hamilton Township to beware, not only for themselves, but also their neighbors, and make sure that Mayor Gilmore is not given another opportunity to once again say that he will not raise taxes, only to raise them after the election like he did four years ago. Do not be fooled again," Darvas concluded. |
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