Councilman Mike dePierro, Council President Paul Carifi, Jr. and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani said Mayor Soriano’s second consecutive tax increase budget demonstrated why Parsippany taxpayers can’t afford to have Democrats take control of Township Council this November.

“Elections have consequences and, unfortunately, the result of a Democratic Mayor in town hall and a Democratic Governor in Trenton is that Parsippany taxpayers are under constant assault,” said Councilman Mike dePierro.  “I am proud to say that Paul, Loretta and I stuck together, proposed real spending cuts, and significantly reduced the tax bite in this Democratic budget.  It’s clearer than ever that the Republican majority on Council is the only thing standing between residents and massive tax hikes in Parsippany.”

On the heels of his proposed 6% property tax increase budget last year, that Republicans then cut in half, Mayor Michael Soriano proposed a 4.72% property tax increase in this year’s budget and was backed up by the Council’s two Democrats, Janice McCarthy and Emily Peterson, who voted against the Republican cuts.

“This administration needs to stop looking at Parsippany taxpayers as an ATM machine for his big government agenda and Hudson County-style patronage hires,” “Elections have consequences and, unfortunately, the result of a Democratic Mayor in town hall and a Democratic Governor in Trenton is that Parsippany taxpayers are under constant assault,” said Council President Carifi, Jr.  “We have thirteen positions currently unfilled in township government and government is still functioning just fine.  That’s why I made a motion that we not fill those spots, saving taxpayers $862,000 in salaries, benefits and pension payments in the process.”

Councilwoman Gragnani said that on top of Mayor Soriano’s fiscally irresponsible decision to defer $3 million from the water and sewer utility to the general fund – jacking up water rates in the process – another big tax increase budget was a non-starter with the Republican Council.

“Just like Governor Murphy and the Democrats in Trenton, Mayor Soriano apparently thinks local residents aren’t taxed enough and that government is some beast that needs to be fed continually,” said Councilwoman Gragnani.  “We disagree.  Enough is enough.  Government needs to live within its means and stop squeezing taxpayers for every last penny.  If the last two years of Murphy and Soriano have shown voters anything, it’s that unchecked Democratic control of our state and town is untenable.  It’s critical we maintain a Republican check and balance in Parsippany this November.”