Hazlet has become 'Taxlet' April 15 was federal and state taxes day and brings to mind to Taxlet (Hazlet) taxpayers our biggest tax bill with the least returns. Taxlet Township and its schools will again raise taxes to keep up the biggest tradition of having one of the largest tax rates in the highest tax state. There is and will be no effort for smaller,more effective and less intrusive town government. Last year Taxlet increased payrolls so that between the town, the sewer commission and the Board of Ed., Taxlet forces its residents to support over 560 pensioned jobs plus other part-time seasonal jobs. That equates to one job per 35 residents or 99 jobs per square mile. Now think about it - the state has an average of 81 total government workers (state, county and municipal) per square mile, and the country six (including federal) per square mile. For that density of employees, Taxlet should be cutting our lawns, shoveling our driveways and doing our laundry. To top it off, public works called our house and told uswemust call within one day if they miss our street with brush pickup as they did this fall. So the taxpayers now must also supervise our Taxlet workers. I must say they were quite efficient in telling us to pick up the brush and get rid of it four days after the missed pickup, or else we'd get fined. I understand their need to fill the trough the Taxlet government feeds off. After all, no one complains, and the same cast of characters take turns running for the Township Committee pensioned job. The rest of us are too busy trying to earn a paycheck to feed the Taxlet tax appetite. Be aware,my friends, the high Taxlet taxes are lowering the price of your house. A real estate agent confided inme that she does not bother showing Hazlet homes, as the tax-to-house value is much greater than comparable homes in neighboring towns such as Middletown. Check the multiple listings and you will confirm that, and driving through town and seeing the abundance of boarded up stores in our shopping locations will also prove that the high Taxlet taxes have driven away business. As you drive through town, you might spot one of the gas-guzzling luxury SUVs the town provides various employees with your tax dollars. At least they have the township sticker on it to advertise what Hazlet taxpayers can support. And yes,we have a new$5million town hall, which was months behind schedule and loaded with extra work change orders. Yes, the town hall does me a lot good. Maybe someday I'll go there and sit around and have coffee. Next, check the "sewage authority," which serves to provide connected township employees with another pension- check out the commissioners' names for yourself. The sewer charge is nothing more than part of your property tax but is not deductible. Technically, public works should be able to schedule periodic sewer cleaning and inspection and have a private concern operate the couple of pump stations that are selfrunning. To dismantle the authority would eliminate nine valuable double-dipping, pension-tacking jobs held by Township Committee persons or other connected township employees. The same goes for a pool club that doesn't support itself.Why do allHazlet taxpayers have to subsidize the summer recreation of others, including many from Holmdel, Matawan and other towns that found the Hazlet Pool Club cheaper than their hometown options? I'll leave it up to your imagination and research ability to find out who benefits from the pool club summer jobs. So, Taxlet residents, next time you write that big quarterly property tax check, ask yourself what you are getting for it. After reading about the waste in the Union City School District, I would welcome a complete independent audit of our school district. Don't hold your breath waiting for this. Be proud. Considering one of our recent mayors went to jail for "official misconduct," I think Taxlet has earned the name of a "New Jersey Soprano Township." Al Solana Hazlet