Resident Urges You to Attend Council Meeting

At 7 p.m. tonight, at town hall, 152 Washington Ave., the good citizens of Belleville must take a stand to stop unnecessary tax increases and the loss of more employees that are sure to come as happened this fiscal year.

Ray Kimble is in his fifth year as mayor.  The previous  administration left a $7.2 million surplus and services were intact.  Since that time taxes have risen 45%, layoffs and furloughs have occurred last year and most likely will again this year,  businesses are closing all over town and more than 400 homes are in foreclosure.

Yet the mayor and council majority are going to borrow another $4 million for non-essential spending.  How many more homes and businesses must be lost? 

We are already more than $2 million in the red for next year and the hole is widening.  Are you ready for another $500 per household increase?  Who will rent or buy your property if the fixed costs are so high?  Council members Steven Rovell and Michael Nicosia are taking a stand against this spending.  They have spoken and voted against bonding, (borrowing), for any non-emergency purpose no matter how good the cause in view of the extreme fiscal stress that the people are under right now. 

Please, please, come to the meeting and show your support by speaking of your hardship or fears in the hopes of reversing enough votes to stop the madness.   You will make the difference.

Jeff Mattingly