October 17, 2018

Former Council Members Endorse Eve Niedergang, Dwaine Williamson

To the Editor:

As former elected members of Princeton’s governing body, we enthusiastically support Democratic candidates Eve Niedergang and Dwaine Williamson for Princeton Council. Both have impressive records of service to our community. Both are leaders we can be proud of. The focus of their campaign is “A Princeton for All,” and they will work tirelessly on behalf of our community for a Princeton that is welcoming and inclusive, fiscally responsible, committed to affordability, and dedicated to sustainable growth.

Our municipal government provides significant funding and resources for numerous social equity and quality of life programs, including affordable housing; social services for members of the community in greater need, including seniors and at-risk youth; public transportation; the Princeton Library; televising Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board meetings; municipal parks; sustainability and environmental awareness; and maintenance and preservation of municipal trees and open space.

The municipal budget that covers all of these programs must also cover other core services of our town, including public safety and emergency services; management and maintenance of roads, bike paths, sidewalks, municipal parking, and the central business district; sewer maintenance; the health department; animal control; the municipal court; planning and zoning; and trash and recycling pickup.

The Princeton mayor and Council prepare our town’s budget. It is approved by a vote of Council in a public meeting and managed by the mayor and Council. It is funded by a combination of the municipal portion of the local property tax levy, which is currently 21.5 percent of the total, as well as several other smaller sources of revenue. The remainder of our property taxes collected by the municipality goes to the county and to the local public school district, which this year respectively receive 30.5 percent and 48 percent of the property tax levy collected locally. The public school’s budget is prepared, approved and managed by the elected Board of Education, while the Mercer County budget is under the purview of the elected freeholders.

Council members must balance a wide range of needs and interests in formulating our municipal budget. We believe that Council candidates Eve Niedergang and Dwaine Williamson are more than up to the challenge. They understand the importance of careful management of costs that must be paid for out of local property taxes, as well as the importance of local municipal services and the social, recreational, and environmental programs that help all of us create a more vibrant and just community. They have the qualifications and experience to ensure that we maintain a community of and for all Princeton residents.

Patrick Simon
Harriet Drive

Bernie Miller
Governors Lane