Donovan Unveils 4 Point Plan for Bergen County Fiscal Sanity
Bergen County Executive Candidate, Kathleen A. Donovan, announced today her plan to make government "smaller, smarter and fiscally responsible." Donovan said that her "4 Point Plan for Bergen County Taxpayers" is not just a plan. "It's a pledge to Bergen County taxpayers, families and seniors that government is going to change for the better."
According to Donovan, "My plan is very simple and basic. It mirrors the practices we employed in the County Clerk's Office which enabled us to generate enough revenue over expense to save each Bergen County family $300. Unfortunately, that money could not be returned to taxpayers and instead was turned over to county government where it was undoubtedly wasted. That will change when I'm elected County Executive."
The Donovan plan:
1. Immediately freeze county taxes and spending for one year.
2. Immediately begin to audit 100% of every dollar Bergen County spends.
3. Cut the waste, EVERYWHERE we find it!
4. Cap County spending at historic lows (no greater than the rate of inflation).
At the core of Donovan's plan is her commitment to immediately freeze county taxes and spending for one year. "To paraphrase Ronald Reagan," Donovan said, "I could say that Dennis McNerney has been spending like a drunken sailor, but that would be an insult to sailors, as they are spending their own money." During McNerney's tenure as County Executive, county spending has increased by $34 million ($34,577,509), an increase of over 31%. "Dennis has his hand in every pocket in Bergen County," said Donovan, "and he needs to realize the taxpayers of Bergen County can't afford him there anymore."
Donovan said that she will immediately begin to audit 100% of every dollar Bergen County spends. "When I hear that an agency (BCIA), that handles hundreds of millions of dollars annually is 'lacking basic financial controls', that's a huge red flag," said Donovan, "Who's minding the County? A Donovan administration will always be mindful that we are spending your money, the taxpayers' money; and I want to know how and why every dollar is spent."
Donovan pledged to Cut the waste, EVERYWHERE we find it! Citing a recent Record article, Donovan said, "Should Bergen County taxpayers be footing the bill for acupuncture for horses, flower arrangements and extravagant expense accounts?" According to The Record, $10,000 was charged at the county owned stable in Leonia for acupuncture treatments for horse! This facility is still not open to the public, yet since 2003 they have mounted up $500,000 in debt with the troubled Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA).
In addition, audits show that McNerney ally Ed Hynes (recently retired BCIA executive director) was running up over $800 a month in personal expense; that adds up to $48,000 since 2006.
Finally, Donovan pledged to Cap County spending at historic lows (no greater than the rate of inflation). "McNerney claims that he cut the budget by $1 million this year," said Donovan. "That's a joke, and a bad one. McNerney increased spending and borrowing by $32 million this year alone!"
Donovan, in her tenure as our County Clerk has saved each Bergen County family over $300 through efficient delivery of services. "McNerney and the Democrats have raised taxes a whopping $110 million or 101% greater than the rate of inflation, costing taxpayers over $100 million dollars in higher property taxes," continued Donovan, "McNerney has increased the County debt by 141% and the total debt now stands at over 1.1 Billion dollars (that's Billion with a B). Every man, woman and child in Bergen County now owes over $1,271.71 (or more than $5,000 per family) as their share of Bergen County's debt because of McNerney's exorbitant, wasteful spending."
"I pledge to you and every taxpayer in Bergen County, that as your next County Executive, Bergen County government will be smaller, smarter and honest. There will be a change in attitude that puts taxpayers first", Donovan concluded.