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Freeholder Candidate: Weight of Tax Burden Pushing Properties Into Foreclosure

Diane Barabas addresses financial burden carried by Union County taxpayers.

Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat one must wonder why Union County Freeholders have passed a budget of $302.5 million dollars? It’s only $11.3 million more than last year?

Even if the increase only means $90 per household as Freeholders claim, but it’s $90 that many families cannot afford.

The weight of the tax burden has now pushed many properties into foreclosure or short sale, but the Freeholders still insist they need additional funds to manage 21 municipalities that are already struggling to maintain their own budgets. Successful tax appeals have been added to the mix and are painful for the municipalities because it means that homeowners are credited for money that has already been budgeted.

First-time home buyers are actually turned away by lenders due to burgeoning taxes, an additional $1,000 a month is a deal breaker. How much more financial burden can be carried by the tax payers in Union County?

During this election season it is important to residents to exercise their right to VOTE and change the Freeholder Board that has put us in a position that may force many of us to walk away from our most precious asset – home.  

I am your Union County Freeholder Candidate that represents the PEOPLE!

It is now your turn to vote Change!

Diane Barabas

Union County Freeholder Candidate

Builda Wall November 6, 2012 at 03:02 am
A good start would be scrapping plans to shut down Warinanco rink and building an entirely new one from the ground up in Clark.
Max November 6, 2012 at 04:28 am
I moved to New Jersey from Massachusetts. Quite true, MA has its problems, but county government isn't one of them. It is utterly bizarre that a government agency would own and operate a mini-golf course, a riding stable, or a function hall. County roads vs municipal roads? That's a recipe for waste (through duplication and redundant administration).
How would a county owned and operated nail salon be seen? That's how I see counties' activities in NJ. Government's role is to provide essential services, period. Government has no justification for engaging in these activities. Utterly bizarre.
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Deborah Bell (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 11:48 am
You're welcome! I'm sure you'll enjoy these boards a lot.
CowDung June 18, 2013 at 04:26 pm
The trouble is, that once the 'boards' are off the front page, one can't follow the discussion. TheRead More 'shout stream' has gone away with the redesign of Patch. The 'reply' feature has also gone. Somehow I don't see these boards as being all that useful for public discussion and interaction. The more effective place is on the articles themselves--they get more page space, and they tend to have a more 'discussion friendly' topic for conversation than the random board postings.
Karen Egert June 18, 2013 at 06:06 pm
I agree -- they should have a separate tab for Letters to the Editor
karen egert June 14, 2013 at 03:01 pm
Apparently Mr. Common Sense you were not at the Board meeting because if you were you would knowRead More that it was clearly outlined that all decisions and reporting of this police officer will be from the police department -- not the school. So are you saying that Lucy Biegler is now the new spokeswoman ? You said she is calling out the position for what it REALLY is ? The discrepancy in outlined roles and the vagueness of this position is reason enough to question it. Ofcourse you have an opinion , but because our children will be directly affected I think our concerns should be heavily weighed . .
karen egert June 14, 2013 at 03:05 pm
Rob -- to answer your question , I was never crazy about the DARE program and yes , I was disturbedRead More that the officer carrying a gun in school . I didn't like it . So I am being consistent. I was new to the school at the time .
A.John Blake June 19, 2013 at 06:22 am
I have no problem with a policeman in school. His ability to carry a gun is no different on schoolRead More property than elsewhere. Let us make sure we all understand that the man is a policeman, not a counselor. I think the idea that the children will be safer is absurd. Cameras in every public area in every school, monitored by the police ,would probably provide better surveillance. I object to any understanding between the Board and the Town which creates a hybrid officer who is required to act differently in school than he does on the street. In the past, the police have been hobbled by "arrangements" between the then BOE and the Town that the police would not enter the schools without permission. Investigations would not be conducted until the Board had finished its investigation. A "safe haven" had been created. This is wrong. In school, the children knew they didn't have to worry about police and acted accordingly. This is wrong. If the people want a policeman in school, let him be a policeman. Let him act as he does on the street. He is not a trained counselor . Don't think he will solve children's problems. At the moment, I don't think the entire picture has been given to us. I cannot believe there is not some writing between Dr.Dolan and the WPD which outlines the authority of each towards one another and over the SRO. I don't believe the BOE is about to allow the " fox into the hen house" without promises that restrict the policeman. I oppose any restriction of a policeman in the performance of his duty. I do not want to see the return of the "arrangements" of the past. The BOE and the Town must provide us with the full agreement or we should dismiss the thought of a SRO.
Charles Sullivan June 12, 2013 at 05:28 pm
Maddy, Thank you for your comment and I agree that's a lot of money. I just wanted to let you knowRead More that I wanted to give the board some options to consider in case they felt the need to hire a hybrid public safety officer with experience in security operations. Does the town need one, maybe. Can the WPD do more in regards to daily school security, yes I think so but they don't have to assign a cop they already have on the books for this activity. Thank you again for time.
New perspective June 13, 2013 at 02:45 pm
Mr. Sullivan - thank you for your lengthy explanation and detail. I think one of the statements youRead More made should speak volumes to all "Resource officers are proactive, and they can stop something before it starts, Police Officers are re-active and they respond to locations to enforce the law." Do we really want an armed officer in the school who MAY react to let's say someone who has a watergun but the police officer *thinks* it is a real gun at first quick glance? This happens everyday thoughout this country all by accident. Do we really need WHS to be another statistic? Here's another question....why just have an SRO at the High School? Aren't the middle school aged children MORE prone to peer pressure and stress that can cause them to want to harm others as a reaction? In my Non-Professional opinion, middle school aged kids are more of a danger than High School kids.
John Q. Public June 14, 2013 at 11:17 am
Mr. Sullivan, I believe I read that the SRO position had been eliminated for budgetary reasons inRead More the past but that doesn't really address the first issue I mentioned, nor does your comment about having external foot patrols. (As an aside, I believe the crossing guard in the morning at the corner where the auditorium is is a regular sworn police officer). In addition, I see the presence or lack of such external patrols and the lack of coverage if a single SRO has a sick day as logistical issues that can be worked out as opposed to legitimate objections. I don't really see these as evidence going against the SRO concept.
concerned citizen June 11, 2013 at 08:03 pm
Egert is just against guns, that's it. Everything has to fit into this, her small world, and sheRead More tries hard to make it fit, squeezes it, bends it and massages it. She gets help from the elitist billionaire Nanny Bloomberg for the talking points, but he has none regarding this specific topic, so she flounders.
john June 11, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Karen, karen, karen. it is to easy. never mind.
karen egert June 15, 2013 at 10:28 pm
GGG - I have nothing against the Westfield police . On the contrary, on the few occasions I hadRead More interactions with any of them., they were all professional , courteous and very helpful . I am grateful for our Westfield police . I believe that the wonderful job they do as trained police officers is spectacular . I just disagree with the use of a police officer that has only been trained in the duties of an SRO for 7 to 10 days to be the ones counseling our children. . But please don't say I'm against police officers . That's inaccurate and unfair .
karen egert June 11, 2013 at 01:38 am
Thank you Matt for working to represent the third ward . If elected I hope you will work to moveRead More the traffic light on Central Ave that is literally on a resident's driveway . It also flashes as soon as it turns red . As my street is one block from there , I often see residents walking across the crosswalk while the lights are flashing . It doesn't make sense and it's dangerous . Putting that light there is also a terrible thing to do to that resident in our Third Ward . It's wrong and we need it moved .