Democrats Didn't Keep Sewer Utility Promise, Scotch Plains Council Candidate Says

This letter was submitted by Scotch Plains council candidate Llewellyn Jones.

To the Editor:

A year ago Democrats Lou Beckerman and Kevin Glover ran a campaign that made a big deal about the sewer bill. They promised to undo the utility and put the cost of using the sewer system back in your property tax levy.

This summer, they spent thousands of dollars on a consultant to study the issue. The study concludes that "merging the sewer utility into the current fund would not be possible." Doing so would require exceeding the 2% tax levy cap.

I'm not going to make promises I can't keep just to get elected (nor waste your money on unnecessary studies). Ironically, this study does have some value for what it tells us about the Beckerman/Glover budget games.

I've posted a full copy of the study on my website and I strongly encourage you to read it:

www.jonesforscotchplains.com/sewer/

The study highlights that the reserves in the sewer utility are now so low that "it is clear that a 2014 rate increase is necessary." So not only will you still have a sewer bill next year, but you'll be getting a big rate hike too! 

That's because Lou Beckerman and Kevin Glover's budget raided the utility's accounts to help fund the town's regular operating expenses. All so that they could proclaim "the lowest tax increase in 10 years." 

Their sleight of hand was to move money from the sewer to look good for this years tax levy increase, and then stick you with the bill next year. I wrote a letter to the editor opposing this type of budgeting back in 2012 when Kevin Glover first got his way on this topic. 

I ask for your vote on November 5th. 

Sincerely,
Llewellyn Jones 
Candidate for Scotch Plains Township Council