Neighbor News
Edison Deserves the Truth About Joshi's Taxes and Debt Hikes
"The facts are simple — taxes went up every single year. The Mayor can spin it however he wants, but the numbers don't lie."
Joshi’s counting on residents not knowing the difference. He hides behind reductions in school and county taxes while, every year, municipal taxes go up. Every year, he says they didn’t. That’s not leadership — that’s misleading the public.
Year-Over-Year Tax Hikes
Under Mayor Sam Joshi’s administration, Edison’s municipal tax rate has climbed steadily:
2021: 1.3880 · 2022: 1.402 · 2023: 1.441 · 2024: 1.4770 · 2025: 1.491
That’s a 7.4% total increase — even as Joshi continues to tell residents he has “kept taxes flat.”
Find out what's happening in Edison-Metuchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As Taxes Rise, So Does Edison’s Debt
But it’s not just taxes. Under Joshi’s watch, Edison’s municipal debt has climbed steeply — rising by approximately 54.5%, from about $116.5 million to nearly $180 million, according to public finance data reported by CitizenPortal.
Find out what's happening in Edison-Metuchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In short: residents are paying more, and the town owes more. Edison taxpayers are working harder, contributing more, and getting less in return.
Tingle’s Pledge: Fiscal Honesty and Accountability
As Mayor, I will end the cycle of denial and restore transparency to Edison’s budgeting process. It’s time to make government accountable again — not to insiders or political allies, but to the people who actually pay the bills.
If elected, I will:
- Freeze non-essential spending until debt and tax rates stabilize.
- Conduct a full public audit of municipal finances and contracts.
- Cap future tax increases and require public justification for any change.
- Fight for Edison’s fair share of county tax returns and open-space funding.
Edison deserves honesty, not excuses. As a public servant and military leader, I believe in accountability and facts. When I say we’ll lower taxes and live within our means — that’s exactly what we’ll do.
About David Tingle
David Tingle is a Lieutenant in the Edison Police Department and a Chief Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve with over 25 years of public service. He is running for Mayor of Edison as an independent on The People’s Choice ticket to restore trust, reduce taxes, and bring integrity back to local government.
Media Contact:
Tingle for Mayor Campaign
www.tingleformayor.com
1043 Amboy Ave, Edison, NJ 08837
This op-ed reflects the views of the author and not those of the Edison Police Department or the U.S. Air Force..jpg)
