Letter to the Editor: The 2 Percent Cap and County Government

To the Editor:

No matter what the result of November's election for Freeholder, the Union County Board of "Chosen" Freeholders will be under the governor's 2 percent cap legislation.  Last week I was able to ask Gov. Christie if the 2 percent cap would apply to county government. I've seen the legislation and I knew that it would be, but the devil is in the details. So, the next question is whether the county could go before the local finance board as it has in the past for exemption to the existing 4 percent cap. The answer was no. So the really good news is that for the first time the Freeholders will have to go to a public vote to be granted an override of the 2 percent cap. This is huge.

The county budget has run under the radar of many voters because most of us pay our taxes with our mortgage or at City Hall. The county simply gets a check from all 21 municipalities in Union County.  The local elected officials usually take the heat for rising taxes. The Freeholders often take the glory for events, special projects and other things funded by our property taxes and for doling out funds from the State and Federal governments.  They are used to spending, reining in expenses will be much harder.  

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Ellen Dickson 
Republican candidate for Freeholder.