What apparently is absent with the Bancroft supporters is the acknowledgment of the tax burden.
This would be for known and unknown expenses related to the purchase and development of Bancroft.
I have read letters from supporters and one page advertisements in the local paper stating the benefits of voting ‘yes’ to this referendum. Let’s face it.. most residents in Haddonfield are considered affluent to upper middle class and spending a few extra dollars will not truly effect their everyday expenses.
So imagine building your home or planning your daughters wedding. These are one in a lifetime opportunities right? If you have the means to do so, you go over board and spend. You add the three car garage, upgrade the plasma TV to a 70 inch, go with 10 foot basement ceilings, have a DJ with a live band, open bar all night.
The list goes on.
Fiscally responsible people who live within their needs do this….They go with higher efficiency windows, smaller and sensible square footage floor plan, just good food, cocktail hour and an atmosphere for a good time.
Well when it comes to taxpayers in this town, not all of them have the means. Bancroft is a luxury that Haddonfield can’t afford. Take care of the basics, fix the schools, upgrade the technology in the classes and bring back the services that have been cut over the last several years. That is sensible.
We are all aware of the benefits of having the opportunity to purchase Bancroft but the price is too high. Sensible and fiscally responsible people don’t over pay for anything.They just don’t. So why should Haddonfiled. Bancroft is posturing if anyone believes Toni Pergolin would put forward a 50 million dollar expansion.
The cost would be too great, time to get permits, environmental issues, the disruption of services to their patients and internal planning squabbles of what Bancroft needs are just a few examples. But in the end, Bancroft will not have what it truly desires..starting from the ground up and building the state of the art facility that their patients deserve.
The current location will restrict that desire. Adding additions and modifying buildings is not the answer and Bancroft knows it. Haddonfield residents should vote ‘no’ and demand more fiscal responsibility from it’s leaders and outspoken citizens.
Christopher Pierznik
