Without revaluation, all do not pay equally for township services
For several weeks now, many East Brunswick residents have been utilizing the opinion page of this newspaper to bash each other for either supporting the school budget or not supporting it, having children in the system or not having children in the system. Enough is enough already.

We all made a choice to live in East Brunswick. Our property taxes have gotten completely out of hand, and, quite frankly, I don't see any new services being added as our taxes, year after year, substantially increase.

Yes, we are getting a new "playhouse." But how many of us actually ever attended the old one? I know I didn't. So did we really need it? Did we really need a multimillion dollar dog park? What about a community center for the children? Crystal Springs Family Aquatic Center is great; however, it is not a yearlong activity. We have a senior center, a great library and a school system. Not all of us utilize these various facilities; however, we should all be equal in paying for them.

I am not a senior citizen. I have children in the school system. My backyard is my dog's park. We don't even have a football field for the youngsters of our community — they have to practice at the Warnsdorfer fields or use Spotswood High School's fields.

I have read every one of those letters to the editor, and they all have pertinent points. Not once, however, did anyone ever mention the fact that this township is long overdue for a revaluation (reassessment of property values). The law requires it to be done, and we haven't had one in more than 20 years. We are long overdue. I just can't understand how the township is getting away with this. Without a revaluation, there is no stability in taxes, and we are not all paying equally. Some of you are not paying enough, and some of you are paying too much.

We all have the choice to vote for or against the school budget, and that is our own individual freedom. Clearly, the school board needs to regroup and come up with a better plan for spending our money. This country is in a recession, and every dollar counts these days. Do we really have that much extra money to give huge pay increases, or do we really need it for the children? People are so afraid to make a choice. We all need to remember, however, that no child will ever be denied an education — that is against the law in this country.

I have many friends with children in other surrounding school districts, and, quite frankly, unless your child is excelling or below average, our school system is equivalent to those of our surrounding communities — no better, no worse. I am a firm believer that a child's education really comes down to what the parent and the child himself or herself wants out of that education, period. (That being said, there is no intent to deny those certain teachers who really do make a mark on a child's life).

I am so sick of hearing about those who do not have children in the school system and how they should be entitled to a credit. I ask these people to look at your tax bill — that's your credit.

I have lived in East Brunswick for nine years, and our property taxes have more than doubled since then. What have yours done? I can guarantee that your increases over the last 20-plus years you have lived here have not gone up as substantially as those of us who have been here for less than 10 years. We are the ones picking up the tab. Do I think that is fair? No. We should all be equal. Just because one may have lived here 10 more years than I does not mean my house is worth more than yours; it's just that my deed shows a larger purchase price, and I am taxed accordingly. So, on top of that adjustment, we are increased yearly just as you are. Ours, however, started out much higher than yours did, and we will never be equal unless this township has a reassessment.

So, no, not everything is fair in this township, but we all need to live together — that's what makes it a community. Failing to do so makes us nothing.
Deborah Gumpper
East Brunswick