Lower taxes without using farmland assessment Farmland assessment has been an open debate in the local media for the last few weeks, but the focus of the debate has been misplaced. Instead of arguing over one individual's attempt to use the New Jersey FarmlandAssessment Act to reduce the amount of taxes owed to the township, we should be asking the bigger question of why does an individual feel the need to use the act to reduce their taxes. I would argue it is because local property taxes - especially in Middletown - are rising out of control. For single-income families, and increasingly for dual-income families, the taxes we pay to the township are too high. Instead of arguing over one individual's tax contribution to the township, we should refocus our debate on how to reduce taxes for all residents so that no one has to find a way around their obligation to live in Middletown. Don Watson New Monmouth section of Middletown