'Thank goodness for good government'

This Thanksgiving, we had even more to be grateful for than expected.
A year ago, 85 percent of Monroe’s voters said Yes to the creation of the town of Palm Tree and the political separation of Monroe and Kiryas Joel.
At the time, we voted with the assumption that the average homeowner would see a town tax increase of approximately $200 from 2016’s annexation and the Palm Tree political separation.
That estimate came from the town’s accounting consultant, RBT CPAs, LLP, during two widely publicized public hearings.
While every additional tax dollar is meaningful, the vast majority of residents felt $200 was a price they would willingly pay for Monroe’s political independence and a bright future.
As it turns out, the increase will be much less than RBT’s estimate, averaging under $60 per home.
By leasing the money-losing Monroe Theater to a bona fide cinema operator, obtaining sizable grants from the state and taking a close look at the overhead needed to run a town of one-half its previous population after KJ separates, our Town Board was able to deliver a smart and efficient 2019 budget.
Thank goodness for good government.
Mike Egan
United Monroe