Well, where to begin with our latest debacle? Perhaps with Kamal Khanna and Mike Herbert deciding (with Mayor Hsueh working the levers behind the curtain) to do away with our time-honored informal discussions before introducing the municipal budget. Perhaps with the hurry-up introduction itself on February 27, a full week ahead of when the revised state regulations called for this. Or perhaps with the March 26 Council meeting, when Kristina Samonte joined Bryan Maher and Linda Geevers to vote for a zero increase in West Windsor’s 2012 tax rate.
This welcome result would have been achieved through a combination of modest expense reductions, better forecasting of revenues, and using a small (10%) portion of the upcoming $2 million liquor license income rather than putting it all towards renovating the municipal building – all of which were entirely reasonable proposals. George Borek nearly joined the majority, but declined to do so at the last minute. He knew that this would further embarrass the administration, which he wanted to avoid at all costs.
Kudos to Ms. Samonte for originally standing up for what she knew was right. This took real bravery! We can perhaps understand, but still not appreciate her vote change on April 16th after relentless pressure, together with carefully-selected “facts” and “good practices,” had been applied from above. Such is politics in the real world.
Stay tuned for 2013, when we’ll review what actually happened with the town’s finances this year and try once again for no municipal tax hike. Dare we dream of an actual reduction?
John A. Church
West Windsor
