Preserve our Morris Township Community

 

Set Aside Open Space, Stop Chasing Ratables, Spend More Wisely, Lower Taxes

 

If development and more ratables are the fix for high taxes, why are Municipal taxes rising so quickly in Morris Township?

 

Development, as encouraged  and  approved  by current Township government, apparently pushes the long term cost of municipal government, services, public safety, and  infrastructure up more than tax receipts. We see taxes go up, but do not feel like we have more of anything other than traffic, noise and population density.

 

The Municipal tax rate, exclusive of Open Space Tax, increased by 31.5% over the past 3 years and  52.1% over the past 5 years.

 

We need to hear our Committee say, “I am going to lower municipal taxes without borrowing or selling assets.” 

 

We must stop deficit spending (annually approving bonds  by ordinance, not by referendum) and passing debt onto our children. We must change our spending priorities to match the priorities of our households and neighborhoods, And we must assure that new development pays the cost of its impact up front rather than having it passed on to us.

 

The Open Space Trust Fund is mismanaged and is not accomplishing what was intended    Township Committee reduced Open Space Funding by 67% and the  Open Space Committee failed  again to acquire significant open  space tract. Millions  of dollars are  sitting unused and hundreds of thousands go uncollected each year while available land is developed instead of  being set aside to provide sanctuary from traffic  noise and  congestion.

 

In order to prevent further slide in our Township quality of life, we need to limit sprawl and keep population density down. The Planning Board and  Board of  Adjustment, hand picked by Township Committee,  must oppose cluster and high density development.

 

Township government must protect the  interests of current residents over    developers and  even preserve the character of our streets and  neighborhoods, if that is our will.

 

Township government must take positive action to relieve traffic congestion.

 

We must increase communication and cooperation  with local employers, surrounding communities and NJDOT to both reduce traffic and improve traffic flow. We must use Use Township  DPW resources aggressively and  creatively to implement  engineered solutions to te  congestion. We must also seek mass transit remedies such as  shuttles between train stations and  employment centers,

And use  find ways to make it easy and  sensible  for people  to leave their cars at home.

                     

 

 

Brought to you by the Committee to Elect Jeff Grayzel