This is a disgrace. They are driving people out of Wayne with high taxes. They are not attracting any ratables into town because of thier attitude and over regulation of almost everything. They lost 35 million in ratables and haven't cut a single program or any cuts in staff. Healthcare cost up 1.6 million maybe they should up employee contributions, look for a better plan etc. The town council and the BOE have shown total disregard for the concerns of the taxpayers in this town. People are suffering and can't afford to live here. Over 300 homes are in foreclosure. Yet the BOE handed out 5 to 9% raises at Nellis Drive. The Township needs to freeze all hiring at this point and make do with what they have. Many town workers park at convenience stores, behind firehouses etc when they should be working. Better accountability is needed. This Township is going downhill fast with no stopping in sight.

When will the increases end? Enough is enough..Cut back on staff. Start there.Get rid of the dead wood.

The poll at the end of this article seems silly to me. Would anyone really vote for higher taxes?????

I'd rather see a poll that asks about choices and their impact on our tax bill. Lots of decisions are made within the local government every day, and they all have financial impact. Instead of spending money on PR firms, how about an independent financial analysis of how we can trim our spending so we can all squeak by a little better?

And id also like to see a real discussion of some of the line items in the budget that we shouldn't be spending so much on. There are expenses that can be better managed in any organization, and there's no reason to believe that this municipality is any different.

This article could be a lot better. What is the % increase of the school board? (I think it was under the cap of 2%). What is the percentage of the Municipal increase? Come on Patch, get up on it or we will demand better writers.

Well, we may have incurred an additional $440,000 from an October storm but I would think that the lack of snow removal services and products this season would off-set this.

Enough already. Let all your employee's pay for their own medical benefits like the rest of us have too. Every year these taxes go up. Enough. Stop spending the money. ( There are ways to cut back that don't include having everyone pay more).

What happened to state aid?

Blind Faith in our leaders will cost us $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Lets not forget that the reason our taxes are high is because of education. I dont mind paying muinicipal taxes because we dont have a choice, school taxes need to be cut there is still too much fat in the system.

There's way too much fat at the county level - that's where the real wastefulness lies.

I doubt all of these entities know what the word "budget" really means. They need to view these budgets as if they were their own household budgets, then maybe they could hold them steady for a few years. It is oh so easy to spend other people's money. Do they think the citizens of Wayne have unlimited money wells? Why not hire outside budgeting experts to see where money can be saved instead of hiring PR firms? It is obvious these people in charge need some expert budgeting advice from some real budgeters.

Since October of 2011 the town council has thrown in our faces the fact that it spent almost 500k on storm-related costs mostly due to the flooding. They fail to mention the savings since October by not having to spend any money on WINTER, or the grants they received becaue of the flooding.
On the outside they're crying like we're a small town and 500k is going to break the bank, but on the inside the cash is flowing in from other little goodies like the "kick-backs" they receive from selling off property tax leins, and the many endeavors that never make it into newsprint.
Wake up people. This town has no debt. If it did, it wouldn't let the BOE and the town Council put themselves in the position to be sued as much as they do. They wouldn't let the Wayne Adult School operate in the red, and they wouldn't be operating two public libraries and a free wheeling book mobile.
The interior is very well padded if you know what I mean. They can immediately save 200k by stop giving 100k to the local PAL and Boys and Girls Club - which makes no sense anyway because they charge enough in fees to operate without any "gifts".
Like we needed a mobile "hotel" that sleeps 20. Who's terrific idea was that ?

Here's an interesting question to ponder. How much do you think the average small business owner's property taxes will increase? Will these business owners be able to absorb the increase? Will the increase be the straw that breaks their backs and causes them to leave? If one leaves, how will we replace the ratable? I don't for a minute diminish the very real impact on homeowners here. But I do have a point -- if taxes make it intolerable for businesses to stay or move into Wayne, then we will find ourselves in a death spiral with no way out. As businesses leave, homeowners will be required to absorb an ever increasing share of the total tax bill. A whole lotta change needs to happen, fast.

They need to put a freeze on all hiring and do more with less. I see many Township vehicles parked behind firehouses, 7-11 etc during work hours so there needs to be more accountability. Ratables are down 35 million from last year. The Township is not friendly to bring in new ratables with thier constant regulations etc. We have over 300 homes in foreclosure and many vacant buisnesses. We need zero increases for a few years. The tax increases are just making it worse for the taxpayers to remain in Wayne. Healthcare increased 1.6 million and what are they doing to control these cost? Maybe Township employee's should be making larger contributions? Maybe a new healthcare provider etc. Wayne needs to get thier spending under control. They need to freeze all controlable spending and hiring. They are destroying this town. The more taxes are increased the more residents and ratables are forced to leave. We need a Mayor, Council and BOE that is responsive to the taxpayers. They all need to be voted out and replaced with elected officials that are responsible to the taxpayers. We need to have elections with new people to bring about real change in Wayne. It seems most of the Council and the Mayor come from the BOE and when the BOE budget was voted down the cuts made by the Council was a disgrace. Less then 1% but they found money to give 5-9% raises at Nellis Drive, a PR firm and several new positions.

I was also wondering about the 1.6 million for healthcare...seems odd. is the township self-insuring/retaining up to a certain amount? No explanations...Always with the hand out..

Wayne use to be a desirable town to live in but the goverment is ruining it soon to be a town with foreclosed homes and forgotten businesses ! Thank you for all your increases well done !

How about we start charging residents that have children in school, make the school system semi-private, it won't cost as much as a private school but it won't be free. Why should people that don't have children or that have children that are in college or working be paying for the school system. I don't believe that our homes are worth any less or more because of the "Wayne schools". If charging is not an option, then start cutting some expenses. When my home budget is high, I can't go to my boss and say I have to raise my salary, no, I cut my expenses. Why should the home and business owners suffer for the careless spending in this town.

1) Let's stop paying the mayor council members their salaries and benefits.
2) Let's stop giving replacement personnel salaries that are 30% higher than the people who left.
3) Let's retire those people who are over 70 years old.
4) Let's do a study analysis and get rid of redundant positions.

I cannot for the life of me understand why the Mayor, Council and BOE, listen to their bosses (the taxpayers). They MUST be FIRED for conduct unbecoming their positions and INSUBORDINATION, then make sure they are ineligible for unemployment, pensions, etc. As Trump enjoys saying: YOU'RE FIRED

Let's stop appointments -take away the ability that allows our elected township and government officals the freedom to appoint an unelected person to fill their chair when they step down or resign. Then hold a special election for all of the seats that have been filled by appointed persons that were "not" elected into that position. Afterwards, let candidates run for these seats with their "alternate". This let's the public be aware of who will be filling the chair if the party disembarks. If the alternate decides to drop off the ticket and the chair becomes available, then a general election is held to replace the vacancy. It's time to stop the nonsense.
We allowing our seats to be utilized like a hop-scotch game of personal power for their own political gain.

Joe, It is odd that all these appointments happened within the same time period that our property taxes escalated

Justice:
Agreed. It's time to reopen the books on the Faulkner Act of 1961. I never believed that 6 ward elcted officals with 3 at-large seats would work in this town, and it doesn't.
Since the 1960's the population growth has shifted on slightly, and that includes the buy-out section of town.
Other problem we constantly encounter is all these "closed door" sessions. Another reason to stop the nonsense.

When it comes to cocern for the residents and taxpayers of this town the Mayor, Council and the BOE thumb thier noses at them. Taxpayers beware these people are out to get you. They pat you on the back with one hand and pick your pocket with the other. As a governing Council they are a disgrace. Yes, every member should be there by vote of the taxpayers not appointed from the "Good Ole Boy Club" at the BOE.

Will they ever listen to the people in Wayne? Or never care about you and keep raising taxes?

It should be interesting when the new budget for the Township takes effect. Wait until your quarterly water bill comes in the mail. Will they raise the sewer tax? That is a tax put on the taxpayers, over and above your municipal real estate taxes.

The Mayor is the worse ever in this town. When issues come up he is silent, puts a gag order on all employee's. There is too many scandals going on both at the BOE and the Township level. Recently a fire inspector was arrested and the township allowed him to retire to save his pension. This incident has dropped out of the news, but again the Mayor is silent. We need a strong fiscally conservitive Mayor, a leader not a follower and a good ole boy. This town need to lighten up on all its regulations that are prohibiting new buisness from coming to Wayne. 35 million in lost tax income and they are still spending and bonding for purchases. We need to have full elections for every council member and stop having another "good ole boy" appointed from the BOE whenever ther is an opening. They sit up there like Gods and whenever they are questioned they are silent and don't give straight replies. Obviously they are blind to the fact that the taxes here are destroyng this town bit by bit. I am afraid it will be too late when they open thier eyes and see what they have done. Instead of being on commercials for Optimum the Mayor should be speaking to the people. Wonder what he got for that? We need a new candidate for Mayor in this township. Republican, Democrat or Independants I don't care. Just candidtates that are going to be responsible to the taxpayers of this Township and not there own little agenda's.

All of you that have voted for this group, now have to live with their policies..If YOU don't like it, then do something about it....Vote for change

Go online a look up the Wayne police contract some of the cops got a 14% raise. They will say the raise was 2% but with longevity increases some got 5% , 8% , 10% and the highest paid got 14%. Every other township employee who don't come close to making what the cops make got 0% or 1%. Most of the cops make 100,000 or more. Check out Data Universe it lists all public employees salaries.

Wayne still keeps hiring away.