Mayor, Council Candidates Explain New Freehold Tax Revenues In Ad

FREEHOLD, NJ – The team of Mayor Kevin Kane, Councilman Michael DiBenedetto and Council candidate Jeffrey Friedman has released a digital ad highlighting its vision for the borough, in particular ways the borough is increasing sources of tax revenue.

The Democratic candidates are running for Mayor and two seats on Borough Council, facing Republican challengers.

Kane and DiBenedetto are seeking re-election. Friedman, owner of Freehold Art Gallery, is seeking his first term. Friedman also manages the nonprofit Freehold Center Management Corporation known as DowntownFreehold.com.

The ad, which can be accessed on this link, discusses the team’s plan to continue easing the tax burden for borough residents by creating three new revenue streams that will stabilize taxes and pay down debt, the team said.

Here are the elements of the plan:

• The recently introduced parking management system generated $18,000 in revenue just last week, while making sure that 60 percent of parking in the borough remains free.
• Property tax revenue generated in the Hometown Redevelopment Area will rise from its current $56,000 to over $1.1 million when the project is complete, while maintaining the character of Freehold’s historic downtown, the team said.
• The borough’s first cannabis retailer has already generated $66,000. That business, along with additional small businesses on the way, are expected to generate over $1 million a year in new local sales tax revenue directly to the borough.

“We are proud of the work done to this point to ease the burden on Freehold taxpayers while also maintaining the character and charm of our borough that we all love so much," the team said in a statement.

"There is simply nothing more important to us than working every day to make sure every Freehold resident is able to realize an even brighter future and we believe our digital ad provides the vision for that future.”

Here are the Freehold Borough candidates in the Nov. 7 general election. Early in-person voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 5:

Mayor (Full Term-Vote for One)

• Kevin A. Kane (D) Monmouth County Democrats
• Richard "Ricky" Gartz (R) Monmouth County Republican Organization

Borough Council (Full Term – Vote for Two)

• Michael DiBenedetto (D) Monmouth County Democrats
• Jeffrey J. Friedman (D) Monmouth County Democrats
• Autumn Nonnenmacher (R) Monmouth County Republican Organization
• Keith Bailey (R) Monmouth County Republican Organization

Current Councilman George Schnurr is not seeking re-election.