TAXES: WE PAY TOO MUCH IN TAXES!
I propose that we try "Zero-based budgeting." What this means is that each department starts out at zero and we build their budget. This is done as opposed to taking last years budget and simply adding some percentage to that. When a budget has been in place for many years many times items are either left there intentionally or by accident in spite of the item either no longer applying or not costing as much as it once did. If we start at 0 we can weed out those items which no longer apply or lessen those items where the prices have actually decreased. We will save money in those areas, hopefully bringing the budget in at less than it was the year before leading to a tax savings for us the tax payers. Flemington Borough utilized it this year and according to the Hunterdon Democrat saved money. I spoke with a Flemington Council-person following the process and was informed that it was very time consuming but very rewarding. I look forward to spending time if the reward is lower taxes.

In addition to that we cannot simply add money to our budget. We have been told that it is a tough budget year and yet I have read that salaries have been increased. If it is a tough budget year we have to say no to increases of any sort.

OPEN SPACE: When I moved to Raritan Township in 1988 it was a beautiful, bucolic, pristine area. In some areas of our community it remains that way. Yet in other areas we have let developers run rampant. The Route 31 corridor now looks like Rt. 18 (East Brunswick) or Rt. 22 (Union). What makes the 31 corridor worse is that our High School and regional Hospital are on that Road, putting our high school students and the most infirm of our population at greater risk. This should not have happened. There is a time and place for everything and our Committee must learn to "Grow smart." We cannot rezone areas for the benefit of developers. Our future must be considered in every building or zoning situation not just the present. With smart growth we can continue to maintain the open space that we have left.

Environmental factors also must be given consideration. We must be a friend to our environment. I recently learned that some in our area do not recycle. Recycling is essential to our future and we must make people more aware of it. In addition to that we should make recycling easier. An example might be is the separating of all the types of glass necessary? Pickup and/or drop-off of items which can be recycled should be made easier. We should look to replace non-emergency vehicles with hybrid vehicles. We should better protect our water sources, streams and rivers by increasing the set back requirement. We should look to solar energy and utilizing more efficient light bulbs. Motion censors should be considered to turn lights off/on. An energy audit might be appropriate in assisting us to determine what other methods can assist us in being better stewards to/for our environment. And we cannot cater to developers and allow the overtaxing of our wells and septic.

OPEN, BALANCED GOVERNMENT: It would have been exciting to be present when our Country was founded. All types of representatives came to Philadelphia. Republicans, Democrats, members of other parties, those who were still loyal to England; Farmers, Statesmen, Businessmen, Lawyers, Doctors, Bankers, Business Owners; Rich men, Men who were not so wealthy but rich in ideas; and the list can go on and on. Unfortunately our committee cannot boast the same thing. In fact, the committee is made up of 5 Republicans. None are lawyers. I have been practicing law now for 23 years and I understand the legal process and the passing of laws. I am a Democrat and realize that our community is made up of many different facets of people. Our Seniors have different needs from our teenagers. As I approach the age of 50 with 3 children of differing ages I am sympathetic to the needs of all persons making up our community and pledge to listen to each and every one who wants to bring those needs to my attention.