In their latest blog piece the Summit Taxpayers’ Association (STA) asks whose fault is the alarming increase in government spending and taxation in Union County.
The question is not directly answered (though I have an answer) but STA, through research of budget documents, does make some salient points, including:
Meanwhile, salaries and wages for the “Development of Lands for Recreation and Conservation” paid with proceeds from the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund have increased a jaw-dropping 1,379% since 2009, jumping more than $2.9 million for a total of $3.15 million in 2017. Despite the increased spending, there hasn’t been much land preserved under the county’s open space program in recent years. By the end of 2010, the county had preserved 320 acres of land under the program—seven years (and $73 million) later, the total number of acres preserved now stands at 322.
This is due to the decision made in 2010, when the Christie cap on tax increases came in, to steal a large part of the Open Space Trust Fund tax for the county’s own budget. It is taxpayers who don’t mind having their tax money stolen who are to blame – and there will be more coming if they know they can get away with it.
