New COAH legislation will create massive tax burdens
The taxpayers of Middletown owe yet another thank you to Gov. Jon Corzine for recently signing the Democratic-sponsored bill changing the way communities deal with COAH obligations.

As if an increase in the sales tax and higher tolls on the state's major highways weren't enough, the governor and his colleagues were kind enough to levy what could be the greatest impact to our property tax bills yet by forcing municipalities such as Middletown to financially subsidize and sacrifice open space for low-income units to be built.

Advocates for the change in COAH legislation such as Matthew Morehead of the Bayshore Young Democrats and the local Middletown Democratic candidates for Township Committee never mention the fact that this program will cost the taxpayers $18 billion to subsidize and result in urban-like housing densities in Middletown. For the average taxpayer in Middletown, the additional cost of these units will be daunting.

Increased development on open space will lead to an increase in students in our schools, creating a potential overcrowding issue and need for school expansion. More development will also lead to the need for more police, greater road capacity and additional municipal and school services. You can be certain that these and the other impacts of overdevelopment will lead to an increase in property taxes.

As a candidate for Township Committee and a member of the Planning Board, I urge the governing body of Middletown to join with other municipalities in the lawsuit to appeal these new mandates. The governing body has an obligation to fight for the best interest of its taxpayers and this new bill is certainly not in the best interest of the taxpayers of Middletown. I feel that the most effective way to make housing affordable for everyone is to cut taxes, not raise them to fund more wasteful, bloated government programs.
Tony Fiore
Middletown