Next week, it will be two years since the voters of Middle Township went to the polls and endorsed a new approach in Town Hall. After decades of control by one political party, voters were eager for positive change. We made a promise to the residents of our town that would finally put an end to the runaway tax increases and bring smartly sized, open and responsive government to Town Hall.
Our first priority was a zero tax increase in 2012. For over a decade, taxes had risen an average of over 11% per year. The cost of the municipal levy had doubled in just seven years from 2004 to 2011. It took hard work, a fresh approach and tough decision-making, but we delivered that zero tax increase budget. In both 2012 and 2013, we have kept the municipal levy below the all-time high record set in 2011.
To continue this trend, the half-hearted trimming around the edges and cutting through attrition of the past will not suffice. We have spent the better part of two years partnering with our great employees to find opportunities for real, long term savings, while building more efficient and user-friendly departments.
Small things can symbolize big changes. We both began carrying Township Smartphones in early 2012. This one step has gone miles to speed up response times, expedite decision-making and give us a 24/7 ability to address our residents’ concerns. Middle Township government has finally moved into the 21st century. We have laid a solid foundation for real reform and innovative solutions.
On November 5th, the voters will return to the polls with a clear choice before them. Do we continue down the path of lower taxes and smarter government or do we take a step back; back to ever higher taxes, back to less transparency, back to wasteful and inefficient operations, back to special treatment for special friends?
We believe the choice is clear. We need Melanie Collins on Township Committee to continue on the path toward positive reform. To date, we have been able to take only limited actions to adapt, streamline and rethink government. Melanie Collins is not running to protect the status quo or to return to the stale and antiquated tax-and-spend policies of the past. Melanie shares our belief that the time is long past due for the bold and innovate approaches needed to break free of the past and build a better Middle Township.
As a schoolteacher with a Master’s degree in Public Administration, Melanie is committed to a brighter future for our kids and has the expertise to help make that future a reality. We are committed to a Township Committee that mirrors the diversity of our neighborhoods and we believe it is important to continue to hear a woman’s voice in Township leadership. Melanie Collins brings a fresh insight to our shared vision of fiscal responsibility, innovative leadership and a promise to always listen to our residents.
Promises were made and promises were kept. Melanie will provide the unified consensus we need to move full speed ahead with the vision voters have endorsed in two historic elections and to help us continue to keep the promises we have made to you.
We hope you will join us in supporting Melanie Collins for Township Committee on November 5th. Let’s keep moving forward…. together.
Tim Donohue
Deputy Mayor
Dan Lockwood
Mayor
Paid for by Committee to Elect Melanie Collins, 21 Acorn Lane, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
