City of Millville Budget 2018
Commissioner Parent introduced the 2018 budget stating there
would be no tax increase. Great news! However, one commissioner does not agree.
Commissioner Pepitone wants to increase your taxes.
In past years each commissioner met with the chief financial
officer and the commissioner of revenue and finance to discuss the budget prior
to its presentation. Apparently this commission does not have time for those
helpful discussions due to their full-time jobs.
Pepitone insisted taxes would have to be raised due to the
lawsuits Team Santiago just settled. Those
cases should not have been settled. Some of the employees involved are the
subject of an ongoing federal investigation. Two of the cases had been upheld
by the courts in favor of the city so there was no need or reason to “settle”.
The City had already won.
If Santiago’s Team needs money why not ask the Levoy to pay the $200,000 it owes the
City. Santiago’s Team could also ask the
Millville Urban Redevelopment Corporation to pay back the $300,000 that is owed
to the city. Maybe Team Santiago should not have unnecessarily renegotiated the Chief’s
contract giving the chief more holidays and money.
And lastly, if you want a walking patrol in the downtown
area, look no further than your CDBG funds. This is how the previous patrols
were funded. And it did not cost local taxpayers.
Added up, there is over $700,000 that Santiago’s Team would
have to either lower taxes or fulfill Pepitone’s dreams.
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