$26 Million Question: Rumson Asks Voters to Dig Deeper

Fair Haven Herald

November 3, 2019

By Jeremy Chandler

$26 Million Question: Rumson Asks Voters to Dig Deeper

Election Ballot Question Seeks to Add a Massive Amount of Municipal Debt with Little Explanation

On Tuesday, November 5, the local election ballot contains a huge debt question which will come as a surprise to most Rumson voters. The Borough of Rumson seeks to add a massive amount of municipal debt--$nearly $26 million-- to this small town of 7,122 residents. The Borough asks for voter permission to issue long term bonds for the debt, which will increase the expense to $50 million or more when interest is added.

SECRET BALLOT?

Adding to the confusion is the government secrecy surrounding this proposal. The Borough website contains no reference to their proposal or why they are asking to add this historic level of new debt to taxpayers, and the first mention of the price tag is only a week before the election when voters received their ballots in the mail. The few who actually read it were shocked to see that their Board of Education is asking to borrow $25,743.972 for vague work on the elementary schools, described as "additions, renovations, alterations and improvements".

WASTEFUL SPENDING

With property taxes and Rumson government spending rising at an accelerating rate over the last decade, and with money already being poured into the relatively modern Deane Porter and Forrestdale schools, the Board of Education somehow found it "necessary" to perform $26 million in renovations. One local builder told the undersigned that both schools could be demolished and rebuilt new for less than that price tag. Which begs the question--what work could possibly be required to justify such an outrageous price tag?

VOTER APATHY

The Rumson government is counting on voter apathy and lack of attention to detail in sneaking this massive money grab into the ballot without any justification or explanation to voters in advance. Voters are being asked to borrow $26 million without knowing exactly what is is being used for or why it is needed. The bonds will saddle Rumson homeowners with a tremendous debt to be paid out over the next 20-30 years. This is certainly something voters would not do in their own household, and they should insist on information justifying this excessive borrowing before approving it.

MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT

When: Tuesday, November 5; Polls open 6:00am-8:00pm

Where:

Districts 1-2 (Rumson Borough Hall)

Districts 3 & 6 (Forrestdale School)

Districts 4-5 (B'Nai Israel Synogague)

jeremychandler1816@gmail.com