Referendum an 'Unfair' Hardship, E. Hanover Man Says

During the public comments portion of the East Hanover Council meeting Monday, Al Farese walked up to the microphone and said he believed the tax levy for the athletic referendum was distributed in an unfair way.

"[This person] has a $300,000 home, [another] has a $600,000 home. Why should this person pays $30, this person pays $60, and you pay $90?" Farese asked the council. "Do you think that's fair?"

Farese said he has lived in the township for 50 years. Now he is retired and living in his Surrey Lane home. All his neighbors, he said, would pay different amounts of taxes if the athletic referendum for the Hanover Park Regional High School District passes.

"I think it's unfair," he said.

Mayor Joseph Pannullo said while he doesn't like spending any more money in taxes than necessary, "I think it's a good project. I think it's good for our schools, good for our community."

Farese disagreed. "You're being penalized like me. I worked full time and part time jobs, my wife worked fulltime, to get our house," he said. "We're being screwed."

William Albert, Jr., the business administrator for the district, divided the tax impact of the $17.5 million referendum package between East Hanover, Florham Park and Hanover based on an algorithm based on each town's equalized value, student populations per town, the total cost of the project and the years of paying off the bond.

, for 20 years.

"The more value you have on your home, the more you pay, unfortunately," Pannullo said.

"I don't think we should be spending $17.5 million the way the country is right now," Farese said after public comments closed.

Pannullo said it was the obligation of adults in town to give students the best facilities possible. "Just because we're getting older, we should never forget about those who are coming up," he said.