| Author |
Message |
    
Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 27
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 7:42 am: | 
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I noticed in the Star Ledger today that Roseland is now going to vote on secession from Essex Country (joining Montclair and Millburn)
I think most of us realize that county government is a complete failure, so why don't we put the question on our ballot and send the same message? |
Mr. Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 298
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 5:12 pm: |
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And where would the towns go?
As someone pointed out, this is unlikely to be approved by the state. You might as well vote to have the towns members of Mars instead of the earth. No amount of agreement will make it true.
Tom Reingold
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Robert Little
Citizen
Username: Boblittle
Post Number: 25
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 10:56 am: |
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A more likely (but still unlikely) solution is to eliminate county government. Connecticut governs its larger territory without any county level of government.
Robert Little
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Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 28
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 12:08 pm: |
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It isn't about the act of secession. It is about making the state take notice that voters/taxpayers are fed up with this mess we call Essex County
Exactly what functions does Essex County perform? |
Mr. Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 299
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 12:10 pm: |
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Jeff, if you don't know what the county does, what are you fed up with?
Tom Reingold
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Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 29
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 2:28 pm: |
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You misunderstood the question or perhaps I phrased it poorly
The question was what exactly does the county do to justify the enormous tax bite and why do we need it?
Maybe you are happy with our system of county government - many aren't - that is why these votes are taking place |
Mr. Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 301
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 2:31 pm: |
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Thanks for the clarification. I'm neither happy nor unhappy, as I only moved in last month.
I bet the county budgets are on public record. I'll see if I can find it, but I'm not trained at looking at budgets, so it might not mean much to me.
Tom Reingold
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lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1653
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 4:08 pm: |
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The county web site has no obvious link to get the budget, but there is an Office of Public Information. I suppose you could call them and ask what the county does:
Office of Public Information
Hall of Records (HOR) - Room 405
(T)-973-621-4400 ~ (F)-973-621-6343
Director (T) 973-621-4400
Teresa Ruiz (F) 973-621-6343
(Room) - 405
Public Information Officers (T) 973-621-2542
Caryl R. Lucas (F) 973-621-6136
(Room) - 408
Public Information Officers (T) 973-621-2542
Anthony Puglisi (F) 973-621-6136
(Room) - 408
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vermontgolfer
Citizen
Username: Vermontgolfer
Post Number: 57
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 9:30 pm: |
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Tom,
All you have to do is look at your county tax bill and will want to vomit, trust me, from someone who has lived in Essex County for almost 20 years.
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crazyguggenheim
Citizen
Username: Crazyguggenheim
Post Number: 417
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 9:00 am: |
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THis is Essex county government:
"Hello, Essex COunty, we'd like to discuss your legal system and give you some ideas on how to better serve the taxpayers. Clean buildings would be a good start."
"You Tony's guy? I said, you Tony's guy?"
"Sir, we're here to save your constituents tax dollars and discuss ways in which to better serve the people."
"Fuggedaboudit."
Call me crazy
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JJC
Citizen
Username: Mercury
Post Number: 76
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 9:04 am: |
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I agree. You don't have to review a budget to know that something is wrong. When I moved here a was really suprised at the total tax bill (income/city/county/sale) and the average or below average service level. But people just keep paying... |
James
Citizen
Username: Mcgregorj
Post Number: 8
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 12:29 pm: |
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I think people know/think they know where the county taxes go. Newark, East Orange, etc... I don't have any figures, but most of the money probably does flow in that direction.
Hey, I don't have any problem with that.
It seems like Millburn, etc... just want to abandon the inner cities. I do have a problem with that. |
doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 235
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 12:59 pm: |
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A large part of the problem, it seems, is that Essex County is one of only 4 or 5 counties in New Jersey that has a county executive. Some of the others are Bergen, Hudson and Passaic. As a result, the County Executive has to pass out political favors, and especially to Newark (Sharpe James) since it has so many votes. Thus, Essex County picked-up a large part of the cost of the Riverfront Stadium, which was ill-concieved and cost more that originally stated, and is a money loser. I am not addressing the subject of the Arena, which originally had Essex County picking up part of the tab. No doubt other counties have the political patronage problem, but it is really exaggerated in Essex County. |
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