Stop the Madness-2008 Road Program

According to an article in the Asbury Park Press on 6/30/08, as reported in the New York Times, the rising cost of asphalt is causing New Jersey State and townships to scale down their road programs. For example, Bergen County had reduced the number of roads to be repaved from 32 miles down to 23 miles. The overall cost of asphalt per Kenneth D. Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, a trade association, is up more than 5 percent since April and more than 10 percent in the past year.

The New Jersey Dept of Transportation expects to pay $88.71 per ton for asphalt this year, a 79 percent increase from the $49.46 per ton it paid in 2001.

Now in Matawan our Borough Council has decided to increase the 2008 Road Program. They have already authorized the Borough Engineering firm, Maser Consulting to begin the necessary paperwork and surveys to the tune of $300,000. in a no bid deal.

Is there an abundance in Matawan of tax monies? Does the Borough have "an offer they can't refuse" on asphalt? How can they justify increasing the Road Program when NJ State and other townships are scaling down their programs? Is this the action of a prudent Borough Council who is watching out for the taxpayers money or does this sound like a Council that will tax us out of our homes and Borough? Hope you all wrote letters to Gov. Corzine asking for financial aid for Matawan because if we get the aid, the Council cannot amend the Budget! If we don't the Council can increase our taxes to support their ineptness.