Lempert helped arrest Princeton's regular annual property tax increase

To the Editor:

I have had the pleasure of working with Liz Lempert on Princeton Township’s Citizens Finance Advisory Committee and on the Transition Task Force Finance Subcommittee. Liz is my choice as the first mayor of the new Princeton.

With Liz, Princeton will have a mayor who is intimately familiar with all aspects of our municipal finances, and we will have a mayor that helped to halt the yearly increase in municipal taxes through tough action by our governing body.

Liz is familiar with the finances of both Township and Borough and understands what needs to be done to maximize the financial benefits of consolidation while preserving services. Her work on the Finance Subcommittee has now included the initial steps in creating our new combined municipal budget for 2013 where we are starting from scratch rather than simply combining the two communities’ budgets. 

Since Liz has been on Township Committee, the regular annual increase in municipal taxes has stopped. This took initiative and courage—reopening union contracts, salary freezes and benefit modifications were all undertaken. Historically, municipal taxes have been allowed to increase by over 7 percent per year over the two decades prior. They have not risen since 2010. Liz has the experience and demonstrated commitment to keep our taxes in check.

Liz will make an excellent first mayor of our new Princeton. 

Sincerely

Scott Sillars