‘Keeping taxes affordable - but for whom?'

To the editor: In your Oct. 7th edition there was a political ad from Supervisor Leonard and Councilmen Martin and Weeks. The incumbents were tying to prove how they were “keeping town services affordable.” I have two questions: What town services? We still have no parks, pool or recreational facilities. Roads are in disrepair and jammed with traffic. We have an all-volunteer fire department, no dedicated police department and our library isn’t part of the town taxes because the library is responsible for its own budget. My second question is: Did anyone else notice that the village of Kiryas Joel’s taxes were $706 on a home in 1990 and $706 on a home in 2005. That’s no change in taxes for KJ for 15 years while the village of Harriman’s taxes doubled in that same period of time as did the village of Monroe. As Mr. Martin pointed out in an article in The Photo News recently, KJ makes up about 45 percent of the Town of Monroe. The incumbents are obviously keeping the taxes affordable; the question is for whom. I ask my neighbors to vote Row D in November for Purdy, Parrella and Budich. They’re been asking the current town board for fairness and equality for every community member in the Town of Monroe for the past several years. They will keep taxes affordable through encouraging businesses that will bring money into our town. They have the platform and determination to make the changes that are necessary for this town to survive and prosper. Terence Kiesel Monroe