Collingswood Debt, Costs Up: Letter to the Editor

Borough resident  submitted this response to the question James Maley asked of residents at the conclusion of the candidate profile Patch published on March 18. He also provided the attached documents, from which he said his calculations were derived.

OK Jim, here's what's wrong with the town because of the way you've been running it. It's a math problem, which is not all that complicated.

Since 2005, the following is observed:

• The borough's net debt is up 793.27%—from $3,925,367 to $35,094, 020, which is the 2011 number.
• Debt service is up 310.56%—from $644,525 to $2,646,068.
• Pension costs for borough employees are up 305.12%—from $344,506 to $1,395,664.
• Medical benefits costs for borough employees are up 120.4%—from $1,315,541 to $2,899,555.
• Taxes are up 66.58%—from $5,698,500 to $9,508,000.
• Bad decisions—the borough doesn't know how to act as a real estate developer—are readily evident.
• Public services are down and century-old infrastructure creaks along, being replaced one band-aid at a time.
• The numbers of police personnel are lower than they were eight years ago.
• The average homeowner hasn't seen their income increase anywhere near 66.58% since 2005, yet the borough plows on, spending what it can't afford.

Since we all desire to continue to live here, what value have you given us, Jim, for all this increased borrowing and spending?

The answer is—almost none.

Joseph Dinella
Collingswood