(D) Freeholder Candidates: Thornton Wrong on Numbers

FREEHOLDER THORNTON WRONG ON THE NUMBERS – AGAIN!
“Thornton is a taxer and spender – put of touch with these times.”
At a public debate this week, Freeholder Jerry Thornton said that the County had decreased taxes and had decreased employees by 100. He was wrong.
Bob Jackson: “An analysis of the real County budgets, not Thornton’s fantasy budgets, show that Thornton is a taxer and spender – out of touch with these times.”
Thornton claimed that taxes have gone down in Cape May County. In fact, since he was last elected, taxes have gone up 15%.
Total amount of County taxes collected:
2007 $79,992,650.25
2010 $92,412,096.25
Even the tax rate has gone up 14% in just three years.
County tax rate:
2007 0.1513
2010 0.1730
Thornton claimed that the total number of employees has decreased by over 100 in the last year. Wrong again. Total number of budgeted County positions has increased in the last three years:
2007 1,033
2008 1,060
2009 1,055
2010 1,037
Thornton has a history of not knowing his numbers. He claimed that his department, the Crest Haven Nursing Home, made money. In fact, an independent professional audit showed that it lost $3.5 Million! When confronted with the real numbers at a public meeting, Thornton said only that he had “mispoke”.
Pat Morley: “Thornton claims to have the experience to lead our County. In fact, his experience shows that he taxes and spends freely, and then “mispeaks” about it. Thornton claimed in his closing at the debate that “he would not change one iota”. Well, Cape May County does not need more of the same.”