Dear Matzav Inbox,
Another year, another budget, another hit to the hardworking families of Lakewood, NJ. This time, it’s a $298 million spending plan that will leave the average homeowner shelling out nearly $400 more in local taxes — between the township increase and the already-announced school district hike — and that’s before Ocean County and the Fire District even take their turn at our wallets.
We’re told this is the price of “growth.” Lakewood has boomed from 90,000 residents in 2010 to nearly 150,000 today. With that explosion, we hear, comes a $20 million spike in spending to keep up with police, public works, and the rest of the municipal services. Fine. Growth costs money. But what no one seems to explain is why growth hasn’t also meant increased revenues. If tens of thousands more residents are paying into the system, why is it always the same story: the numbers don’t add up, the coffers are “strained,” and the solution is another tax hike?
The taxpayers of this town are not bottomless pits. We are stretched beyond what’s reasonable, and yet every year the refrain is the same: pony up more, take the hit, deal with it. There’s no pushback, no resistance, no organized outcry. It’s as if we’ve all been numbed into accepting that higher taxes are as inevitable as sunrise.
Meanwhile, take a look around. What exactly are we paying for? Traffic is worse than ever, turning what should be a 10-minute drive into a daily ordeal. Infrastructure lags behind our growth by decades. Quality of life? It’s in the gutter. And still the bills climb higher. It feels like we’re paying a premium for decline.
What makes this even harder to swallow is that every segment of our community is being squeezed. Baalei batim, yungeleit, working families, retirees — all of us are carrying a burden that grows heavier each year. It doesn’t matter whether you’re struggling to cover tuition, mortgage, rent, groceries, or just trying to keep the lights on; the township has found a way to make sure there’s less left in your pocket at the end of the month.
And where is the outrage? Where are the voices demanding accountability, transparency, or even basic fairness? Why are we sitting silently while decision after decision leaves ordinary families gasping for air? There should be lines out the door at township meetings, but instead it’s crickets. We’re treated like an ATM, and we allow it.
The result is a community that is being priced out of itself. Families who settled and live here because Lakewood was affordable and offered a thriving Torah environment are finding it increasingly difficult to remain. What happens when the very people who built this town can no longer afford to live in it?
Enough is enough. We can’t keep nodding along while taxes rise and services crumble. We can’t keep shrugging as if this is the natural order of things. If growth really is the driver, then growth should be the solution, not the excuse. And if leadership cannot manage growth responsibly, then it’s time for leadership that can.
Until then, we’re left with the same old story: more taxes, more frustration, less quality of life. And we wonder why people feel disillusioned.
Sincerely,
A Taxpayer
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Growth costs money. But what no one seems to explain is why growth hasn’t also meant increased revenues
There are increased revenues. Only they don’t match the increased costs. Put it simple. How much does busing alone cost for each child in Lakewood? How many children live in the typical townhouse? How much of the typical townhouse real estate taxes go for bussing alone? Then we can start with all the other expenses.
So run for city council and change it
Are you aware the township committee that is supposed to represent us the taxpayer dont even have live meetings but virtual online quick meetings. Our taxes are higher and higher, wait until the BOE that owed the state ~150 million and we need to pay it. The township gives abatements (tax free) to many office buildings toi the well connnected. Buckle up as if we dont vote them out we are in for a diffcult time. They are not representing us the taxpayer.
Wow! You really know how to parrot lines from our local moser.
As far as tax abatements, it is a fairly standard product across the country and has nothing to do with political connections.
It is a simple form that anyone can figure out (I’ve done it myself), and a lot of patience while it gets processed.
except what you are referring to is the standard graduated 5 year abatement, and yes our office building in the center of town received it 10 years ago and it is long past over. CY is referring to a 30 year abatement that was handed out in Cedarbridge area; that is quite a big difference.
Next election vote the opposite of whom the Vaad recommends.
Leave Lakewood, move out of town. It’s a much better life. Simpler, quieter, far less stressful. I left years ago – never looked back.
Im on HUD and the increased costs dont effect me
It can. Your landlord’s taxes go up so they can raise your rent.
This township runs on slow motion. Time for serious leadership change. We are all hostages of the famous “Hakoras Hatov” slogan. It’s a travesty.
This township runs on slow motion. Time for serious leadership change. We are all hostages of the famous “Hakoras Hatov” slogan. It’s a travesty.
A day before every Twp. Election the Vaad put out articles of all the chesed they do. And why we should listen to them. Then the mosdos write letters telling people to vote for them. After the election we suffer. It’s a cycle.
I clicked the headline expecting to see a letter complaining that we pay so much in taxes and the BOE barely gives us busing in return.
Instead we got a letter from someone who can’t do math.
The kind of infrastructure upgrades you wish to see (to alleviate traffic) will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take years to complete.
That is the secret to why every city has poor infrastructure. The costs are upfront, the inconvenience (closed roads during upgrades etc) is immediate, while the benefits don’t come until later. It’s virtually political suicide to invest in infrastructure.
“The costs are upfront, the inconvenience (closed roads during upgrades etc) is immediate, while the benefits don’t come until later. It’s virtually political suicide to invest in infrastructure.“
Not in Lakewood where committee members have a virtually guaranteed lifetime position. They won’t realistically be voted out. Might as well put in the effort to fix things.
I’m guessing that Lakewood has a higher rate of properties zoned as tax exempt than cities of comparable size.
“If tens of thousands more residents are paying into the system, why is it always the same story”
Just keep voting for D E M O C R A T S and you’ll continue getting kicked in the pants!
Come live in Yerushalyim where there is constant work on the roads, (and for that matter all over Israel) New highways, tunnels, light rail.- you name it!! Everything is expanding and they are doing a GREAT job! It’s awesome to watch! הרחיבי מקום אוהלך! just like the Novi says.. And gorgeous new parks for kids…
move to the south. much cheaper and slower.
move to the south. much cheaper and slower.
Draw up an alternative vision and a practical, detailed action plan. Once you have it, run on it. Kvetching won’t get you there. If your favorite party won’t play ball, find or start a new one. People invested in an unviable status quo will have to adapt.
I don’t live in Lakewood so I honestly can’t comment on this topic. See you later.
So now to alleviate the traffic and quality of life issues it will cost millions so give the commuter a pass on it ?? Really ?? Where was the proper planning for this growth ? why like all representative government they have proper planning . Here in Lakewood there was none just allowing builders to build and make big bucks. Years ago in Lakewood the commiteee had foresight to have an industrial park that paid taxes while issuing none of the public works as they had to pay for their garbage and snow removal. Now all the schools in closing halls ave free garbage collection . Buildings that once paid taxes are turned into schools that don’t pay taxes .. the entire average of americas was built on tax payer land they was given to special interests and the building past minimal taxes !! Who does such a thing? They don’t represent us the tax payers . There is no justifications for the lack of representation. The don’t have meeting for the public and it is online they don’t care about us The Vaad wakes up a week before elections and goes into pr overdrive to get people to vote . We need to vote them all out !!
Why are there no traffic lights on the 9 in lakewood. You cant cross the street or make a left turn. What about Washington Ave that you cant turn left. traffic is held up and you cant get to school or work in the morning or home in the afternoon. What about 4 way traffic signs which only confuses drivers and doesnt help anyone. What about the totally dark streets which have poor lighting.