Understandably, there have been a slew of opinions, and perhaps even more questions, bandied about both on social media and at public meetings regarding the two referendums on the November 7 Election Day ballot.
It’s been my experience that there are usually no one-size-fits all answers when it comes to taxpayer dollars and how they are deployed. I’ve been saying it for months. This has been a very rough year not only for the municipal budget, but also those of Mercer County and the Robbinsville School District as well.
Third quarter tax bills were recently mailed to residents after an unfathomable delay by the County, and the news was predictably painful. There is no sugarcoating the challenges we face.
Just like with seemingly everything else in the world post-pandemic, there are varying opinions, divisions, and almost no one is 100 percent correct on any issue. No matter what happens on Election Day, please remember that despite the divisive nature of politics today we are all still neighbors.
We can agree. We can disagree. We can also agree to disagree on a wide array of topics, but know this: Everything we do, and every decision we make over here on a municipal level is designed to make a lasting and positive impact on the lives of you and your family not only now, but years in the future.
That will never change as long as I am your mayor. It is also my belief that the school district also wants nothing but the very best for its students.
I am not here this month to advocate one way or another for either the $4.8 million school referendum, or the proposed 1-cent increase in the Open Space Tax. I made my personal feelings as a resident and a Robbinsville taxpayer very clear with a post on my personal Facebook page on Sept. 22.
As for our schools, I do want to thank Gov. Phil Murphy and our District 14 legislators, led by Sen. Linda M. Greenstein, Wayne DeAngelo and Dan Benson, for the nearly $1 million in emergency school aid, along with another $6.8 million school facilities grant – the latter of which cannot be used for teacher salaries or district operations. Nevertheless, these are certainly extremely generous resources directed toward our district.
All I can say in the space is please continue to educate yourself as best you can about both referendums, ask the tough questions, and then do what is best for you and your family.
Even more importantly: Please vote!
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Fingers crossed, but there will hopefully be little room for error this election season now that Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello confirmed the County has purchased new Dominion ICX Touchscreen voting machines.
These machines allow voters to vote, print out their ballot, and then scan the ballot into the scanners. These are the same voting machines the County presently uses for early voting. They are now available to be used in every voting district on Election Day.
New Superintendent of Elections Walker Worthy Jr. has said the new machines “will make it easier to cast your vote, change your vote, write in a vote and record your vote – all within seconds of closing the curtain behind you. In addition, these machines are designed with features that make them more reliable, more efficient, and more secure.”
We will soon find out.
Those looking to schedule a demonstration for a church, civic group or club can call (609) 586-4753, or email pdomboski@mercercounty.org to make the arrangements.
Dave Fried is the mayor of Robbinsville Township.
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