GOP Freeholder Candidates Garganio & O’Brien Outline “Property Taxpayer Bill of Rights”

           Mount Holly, September 10, 2009 – Republican Freeholder candidates Bruce Garganio and Mary Ann O’Brien today outlined a substantive campaign platform and governing plan today called the “Burlington County Property Taxpayer Bill of Rights.”  The candidates’ plan pledges to lower property taxes, shrink the size of government, spur economic growth, promote renewable energy, strengthen ethics and take on Trenton over unfunded mandates.

           Garganio, a Florence Township Councilman, and O’Brien, a Medford Township Councilwoman, released a portion of the plan earlier this summer when they called for county employees to assume a 20% cost share of their generous taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits, while at the same time proposing an operational audit of county government jobs, services and programs aimed at protecting the essential functions of government and shedding wasteful ones that drain taxpayers.          

          “Today, we are proud to outline our positive, hopeful vision for the future of Burlington County,” said Garganio.  “This summer we have knocked on literally thousands of doors, spoke with county residents about the issues that matter to them and their families, and listened closely as those residents told us what they want from their county government.  The result is the most specific, issue-oriented plan any candidates for Freeholder have ever proposed.  We look forward to taking this message to the voters over the next 54 days and earning their support at the polls on Tuesday, November 3.”          

           O’Brien said the number one request from county residents is to reduce their property tax burden by reining in the cost and and size of county government.  “Between the national recession and a spend-first-ask-questions-later government in Trenton, people are truly struggling to make ends meet,” said O’Brien.  “That’s why the first plank in our platform aims to reduce property taxes by shrinking the size and cost of county government by millions of dollars.  It’s time county employees pay their fair share for the generous healthcare benefits they receive courtesy of county property taxpayers.” 

           Garganio said the second most frequent request he’s heard on the campaign trail is to position Burlington County as a leader in economic growth once the recession ends. 

          “We want to ensure that Burlington County is a statewide leader in attracting new jobs and spurring economic development once the recession ends,” said Garganio.  “That means targeting emerging industries like warehousing and distribution, ‘green’ technology manufacturing and healthcare, promoting business-ready sites via the Internet, identifying key redevelopment areas across the county, and working with the county college and vocational schools to enhance job training.” 

           O’Brien, who has played a role in Medford Township becoming one of the most progressive communities in the State when it comes to renewable energy, said the county must make “green energy” a priority or risk being left behind. 

           “Establishing Burlington County as a green energy leader will help protect our environment, while at the same time reducing energy costs for consumers – that’s a win-win,” said O’Brien.  “We can accomplish that by encouraging towns and schools to maximize their solar potential locally.  They can accomplish this by partnering with each other to sell energy at long-term rates, while allowing the Bridge Commission to faciliate the installation and maintenance of solar panels on township and school-owned buildings.  This will result in real energy savings without the need for up-front investment of taxpayer dollars.” 

            O’Brien pledged continued progress on strengthening ethics refrom, especially in wake of the massive pay-to-play scandal engulfing the County Democrat Party this summer.          

            “Judging by the pay-to-play scandal involving the County Democrats this summer, it appears their commitment to ethics reform is all talk and no action,” said O’Brien.  “On the other hand, we are eager to continue reforms made by Freeholder Director Donnelly and others, including adopting a self-imposed term limit of 12 years, enacting a strict vendor code of conduct, preventing a revolving door between government and the private sector, and strengthening the county’s farmland preservation ethics policies.”

           Finally, Garganio, said he is eager to take on Trenton and the scourge of unfunded state mandates that he says drives up the cost of government and are directly responsible for higher property taxes in every town, school and county in the State.   

            “Whether its COAH housing, inadequate reimbursement for State prisoners in county jails, or some other program that State requires but refuses to pay for, it’s time we drive a stake through unfunded state mandates once and for all,” said Garganio.  “The overburdened property taxpayers of Burlington County and New Jersey deserve no less.”