After Promising No Increase - City of Rahway Dem Machine Raises Taxes

Rahway Republican Committee

Contact: Patrick Casio, Chairman

April 23, 2008

For Immediate Release 

Say What???    After Promising No Increase - City of Rahway Democrat Machine Raises Taxes 

Dems in Rahway City Hall Seeking Reelection ALL Support 12% Hike 

Mayor says “I am pleased to announce that the municipal portion of your Rahway tax bill will see a zero increase this year." 

Rahway – Merely days after receiving the taxpayer funded magazine, “Rahway Review”, featuring boasts from Democrat Mayor Jim Kennedy bragging about stable taxes, the over 7,200 city homeowners received amended tax bills yesterday reflecting an unannounced increase to their 2nd quarter tax bills which had been previously mailed to residents in February. This late tax hike is a direct contradiction to what City Business Administrator Peter Pellissier and his Dem council cronies have been saying about lower taxes for the City over the course of the past four months.  The Rahway Republican leadership finds this type of “skullduggery” very troubling to say the least and questions how any responsible leader could expect residents to feel good about a new bill simply because it contained a disclaimer. “If they thought that no one would bother to read the new issue of the “Rahway Review” and Kennedy’s statement why did they bother to waste taxpayer’s money printing the thing,” said GOP Chairman Patrick Casio. The Republicans believe it is insulting to the taxpayers that the Rahway Democratic Regime would think that people would not notice the discrepancy between their words in print and their actions, and willingly accept another new tax hit. The Rahway Republicans point out the following: 

• The disclaimer on the bills citing the municipal portion as being stable is a falsehood because if the sewer portion was not separated onto a separate bill, the math would be clear and show a 12% increase!
• Residents must understand that any tax increase coming from Union County is actually from the same source as it is the same Democrat machine that is running the City of Rahway:
• Rahway Democratic Committee Chairman Rick Proctor is a paid health inspector employed by the City of Rahway as well as a paid Union County Freeholder.
• Former Rahway Democratic Councilman Chester Holmes is also a paid freeholder.
• Rahway Councilmen Bob Rachlin, Sal Mione, and James Baker all have Union County jobs and are paid a salary as Rahway Councilmen, thus they are collecting two salaries which are contributing to this tax increase.
• Double dipping into tax dollars is way of life for career Democrat politicians in the City of Rahway; evidenced by the fact that all five incumbents, up for re election this year, either have another public job or have a close family member who does.
• The Rahway Democrat machine consistently campaigns for more county government and recently enabled them to purchase the Union County Arts Center in Rahway. Note that ticket prices are not any cheaper for the taxpayers who ultimately funded this project.

 The City CFO Frank Ruggerio has repeatedly denied any tax increase at the past four Rahway City Council meetings. And, Council President Sammy Steinman has also claimed that Rahway taxes are stable and that the new sewer tax would save Rahway residents money. Additionally ALL five of the Democrat incumbents have unbelievably voted yes to support all of these actions which have heavily and conversely impacted the city’s taxpayers. The Republican candidates for Rahway City Council, Lawrence Bodine, Bryan DesRochers, and James Pekarofski have consistently been watchdogs for the taxpayers and they have questioned the dollar amounts of the current tax bills and the new sewer taxes for months. “No savings can be possible when all you are doing is removing the sewer charges, and billing it as another separate tax”, Mr. Bodine said at the April 14th meeting. “The residents of Rahway have actually overpaid for sewer usage from the November tax bill and they should receive a rebate” he added. The new sewer tax was actually billed in February and March even though residents were told that they could expect it to be billed quarterly. Also, adding to the confusion notices are being sent by United Water threatening to shut off water services for non-payment of the “Democrats New Sewer Tax”. The voters should hold every elected office holder in Rahway responsible for the way these sewer bills and surprise late tax increases have been mailed out while Rahway residents struggle in the middle of a recession. GOP says: The bleeding at City Hall must stop and Rahway’s fiscal house must be put in order. 

All five of the Republican candidates for Rahway City Council want a freeze on new spending to be implemented immediately and they are calling on the “Democratic City Regime” to take action now by providing tax relief for struggling seniors and hardworking families in Rahway.

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