You may recall that last year’s ballot was filled with questions on whether roads should be paved across the township.  Everitts Road, Dory Dilts Road, and the Sunny Hills development were targeted.  Not surprisingly, all three projects were voted down.  Who is going to vote to spend money paving roads in somebody else’s neighborhood when taxes are already high?

Also on the ballot were two questions regarding funding for new vehicles for our local volunteer Fire and Rescue organizations.  These two questions passed because how many of us want to take a chance that the fire company or rescue squad will not show up when we have an emergency?  Yet when the economic collapse hit in the fall of 2008, the committee refused to consider delaying the purchases.  Mayor King cited the voters’ intent in passing the referendum to justify the expenditures.

We believe that road maintenance is one of the most basic functions of local government and your elected officials should not be pitting neighborhoods against each other.  Instead, the township committee should be doing what they are elected to do - oversee the municipal budget and set spending priorities to keep our police, fire, rescue and roads functioning.

We also respect the will of the voter, but in the case of a non-binding referendum we feel it is unwise to blindly move forward to put the township in debt for $1,200,000 while ignoring a worsening economy.  Again, your elected officials have an obligation to remain vigilant in controlling expenditures.

We believe that referenda are justified when discretionary projects call for borrowing or taxes.  Last year’s county question on Open Space is a good example.  Abuse of the referendum process to avoid difficult capital budgeting decisions is counterproductive and cynical.

If elected, we will make the tough fiscal decisions that are needed to preserve and improve municipal services.  We’ll have an open door policy so taxpayers can air their concerns.  And we’ll webcast Raritan Township Committee meetings because we believe that open government is the best way for residents to get the township that they want and deserve.  Please vote for the township you want, vote for Marianne Rampulla and Chan Leung on November 3, 2009.