In the second week, council candidates explain their stances on recent budgets, taxes and balancing commercial growth with open space.
The Sicklerville Sun is running a four-week Meet the Candidates series ahead of this November’s Gloucester Township Council and Mayoral election.
Below are profiles of the candidates running in the election. In the coming weeks, the candidates will answer questions regarding issues pertaining to the town.
Democrats
Names: Dave Mayer, Dan Hutchison, Scott Owens and Michelle Winters
- How do you feel about the township’s recent budgets and municipal tax rates?
Our goal is to continue providing exceptional management of our Township finances and continue to control the municipal tax rate. Over the last 8 years we have stabilized the municipal tax rate by not raising taxes 6 out of 8 years. Yet, despite the recent economic recession, Township finances have greatly improved through better management, shared services, and innovation. The Township was recently recognized for these improvements by Standard and Poor’s which stated: “The upgrade reflects our assessment of the Township’s ongoing economic expansion and improved finances. The rating also reflects our opinion of the Township’s: Low market risk profile, Strong wealth and income, Strong reserves, Low overall debt with limited additional debt and capital needs.” As your representatives, we will continue to find innovative ways to save tax dollars while still providing residents the services they expect and deserve. We have proven that we can provide the fiscal leadership it takes to run our township efficiently and responsibly. We recognize that our residents are hardworking and we have fought to stabilize finances, reduce costs, and streamline government to keep our community thriving.
However, we also want to keep our community affordable. We have done this by stabilizing the municipal tax rate and not raising taxes 6 out of 8 years. Here are some examples of how our team has saved tax dollars: We have refinanced our debt, saving more than $1 million, eliminated township jobs, merged governmental agencies, participating in shared service agreements with the school district, county and other municipalities, and implemented single stream recycling which has saved taxpayers over $3 million. Our number one priority is putting the taxpayers first. Despite making necessary cuts, we have and will continue to support our police department and all the innovative strategies they have implemented. Over the past several years, the crime rate has been reduced by 34%. We are proud of the progress that has been in Gloucester Township and we hope to continue fighting to hold the line on the municipal tax rate while keeping our community safe.
2) Do you feel the township has done a good job balancing commercial growth with open space?
Despite a national economic recession, Gloucester Township has seen a tremendous commercial revitalization beginning with the largest economic development project in the history of Gloucester Township and one of the largest in South Jersey- Gloucester Premium Outlet Center. This $90 million-dollar project created over 400 construction and 600 permanent retail jobs helping to improve both our local and regional economy. And that was just the start. Over the last 7 years our Economic Development Landscape has been transformed from economically challenged infrastructure to vibrant and flourishing centers of commerce and business. We have established redevelopment plans for the College Drive Interchange, Blackwood Clementon Road, the Black Horse Pike and the Township-owned NIKE bases to further enhance economic development opportunities and create jobs for our residents.
We have balanced this commercial growth by investing in our youth activities and our parks. There are more than 50 parks and playground in Gloucester Township, including Veteran’s Park, GT Community Park, and the Bike Trail. We pride ourselves on the investment that we have made in our youth programs and our environment. We continue searching for new, innovative ways to be as environmentally sustainable. Our team believes that Gloucester Township is truly a great place to live, work, and play and we want to continue the progress we have made.
Republicans
Name: Frank Radisch
1) How do you feel about the township’s recent budgets and municipal tax rates?
Our recent budgets show the clarity of our problems. The residents know that their taxes have increased to an unsustainable level. Our spending is the problem. We are spending money at a dangerous rate. In 2013 our budget was $54 million. Just 4 years later in 2017 our budget is $60 million. We are increasing our spending over $1 million per year. This puts too much pressure on the tax payers.
The other problem that has presented itself with our 2017 Budget is that we have the largest surplus at over $5.2 million. Following a huge tax increase the year before this money should have been used as a tax reduction to the residents.
Reviewing the recent budgets and tax rates make it clear that we need a change in Gloucester Township.
2) Do you feel the township has done a good job balancing commercial growth with open space?
Our commercial growth is lacking due to how difficult it is to do business with our municipality. When I speak to business owners who deal with Gloucester Township they say that it is too difficult to obtain permits and get things done within our township. Their feedback is that if we could streamline this more businesses would come to GT based on our large area and demographics. Improving this will be a focus of my administration.
Name: Peter Heinbaugh
- How do you feel about the township’s recent budgets and municipal tax rates?
This isn’t really the question that should be asked. The question should be, “Gloucester Township property taxes are embarrassingly high. How will an honest Gloucester Township government reduce our crushing taxes so that residents can afford to stay in their homes?”
First, why are our taxes so high? It’s not someone else’s fault. It’s not due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control. Our obscenely high property taxes are a man-made problem caused by career machine politicians. Our obscenely high property taxes are caused by this current regime whose top priority is to enrich the political machine. This regime has raised GT property taxes a staggering 42% during our current mayor’s tenure.
Our high property taxes can be reduced by honest elected officials who do not answer to a partisan, pay-to-play political machine.
Our team of candidates — Frank Radisch for Mayor, Jen O’Donnell for Council, Rhoda Montana for Council, and yours truly Pete Heinbaugh for Council — is made up of honest residents who do not answer to a party, who do not answer to a political machine, who do not answer to pay-to-play donors. We only answer to YOU, the residents of Gloucester Township.
Our team has a robust, actionable plan to reduce our town’s property taxes. Our plan consists of everyday, common sense measures. Just like what GT families must do to manage their household finances.
The details of our team’s plan, and of the rest of our platform, can be read by visiting SavingGT.org.
We will reduce Gloucester Township property taxes.
2) Do you feel the township has done a good job balancing commercial growth with open space?
On one hand, Gloucester Township gives a generous tax abatement to the Outlet developer to turn open farmland into a shopping area. On another hand, GT wastes your “Open Space” tax money to build the unutilized Heritage Park (affectionately nicknamed ‘Swamp Park’) on Somerdale Road.
Then, on another hand, GT gives permission for an energy company to cover over many, many acres of open, green fields on school property with solar panels. The energy company fully owns these solar panels and ALL of the energy produced by the panels. The school district is unable to demonstrate that it has benefitted even a single dollar from having these panels on its property. In fact, the school district is being forced to pay for the cost to move and reinstall solar panels on its property. Indeed, solar panels serve to reduce carbon emissions. And, when done right, should benefit our town. But the way this was done in GT seems to only benefit the energy company.
So, it seems one hand doesn’t know what the other hand is doing. But no worries, with these various, conflicting projects, the pay-to-play contractors are doing just fine.
(By the way, do you know that, on your property tax bill, we all pay an “Open Space Tax” twice — one to Camden County, and another one to Gloucester Township?)
Name: Rhonda Montana
1) How do you feel about the township’s recent budgets and municipal tax rates?
As someone feeling the pain of our township’s rising taxes, while being ignored by longtime members of council, I see that there is a need for change. Watching career politicians year after year raise taxes and increase spending has made me angry. These people are not listening to the residents, not caring about our struggles. We don’t need 4 more years of the same; we need an honest change. Someone who will listen, and will act in the interest of the taxpayers, and not the political machine. With a long career in sales and marketing, listening has become a strength, and because of this I will be an advocate for Gloucester Township families every day. My hope is to be the servant of the people that our current members of council have forgotten to be.
2) Do you feel the township has done a good job balancing commercial growth with open space?
Our township does not seem to have a clear plan to balance commercial and open space projects. Instead, our township government spends our open space tax dollars haphazardly. Sometimes the spending is for worthy projects; but all too often, open space tax dollars are spent wastefully on projects that do not benefit our community.
Name: Jen O’Donnell
1) How do you feel about the township’s recent budgets and municipal tax rates?
Property taxes are way too high in Gloucester Township. Everybody can see that. This is why my team — Frank Radisch for Mayor, Pete Heinbaugh for Council, Rhoda Montana for Council — and I have decided to step forward and run for office. Unaffordable taxes are the reason we all see neighbors vacate their homes and move away.
We need change in Gloucester Township. We need new, un-beholden voices in the municipal building of Gloucester Township.
2) Do you feel the township has done a good job balancing commercial growth with open space?
Under the guise of ‘open space’, the current Gloucester Township government has recklessly, wastefully spent our ‘open space’ tax money on a number of ill-considered, ill-advised projects. Currently, no one on GT Council has the courage to ever question the bad ideas.
