Berk, Sockol deserve Holmdel's votes in November
This year when Mayor Serena DiMaso of Holmdel told everyone how proud she was that the Republican majority on the Township Committee managed to stay within budget and not raise taxes, we were skeptical. As residents who have been paying sewer utility bills, we became annoyed and angry to learn that a significant surplus of money was accumulated from out quarterly sewer payments: about $3 million, and about half were taken to balance the budget! We believe in a reasonable surplus to be held for contingencies: necessary repairs/upgrades.

This raiding of the sewer funds is unacceptable. The money should be returned immediately. If taxes need raising, everyone should share in the burden. In addition, the sewer bills should be reduced significantly as it appears unnecessary for the sewered residents to continue to build up a reasonable surplus. This was recommended by Committeeman Larry Fink more than once and was suggested by then-Deputy Mayor Janet Berk.

This situation reminds us of then Gov. Whitman's disastrous balancing of the budget for the state of New Jersey.

We've had it with Ms. DiMaso's version of open government and fairness. We had some really good results when the Democrats were in control two to three years ago and we truly believe Janet Berk and Mike Sockol deserve our votes in November.

Irene and Richard Holler

Holmdel