VO: Raising taxes… 

• Melonie Marano voted for the 2008 and 2009 Township of Green Brook budgets, which raised taxes.  The 2008 budget increased the municipal tax rate from 0.313 to 0.358. The 2009 budget increased the municipal tax rate from 0.358 to 0.381. (Township of Green Brook Budgets, 2008 and 2009) 

VO: …and lining their pockets. 

• From 2004 to 2009, Marano received five consecutive salary increases – one in each year of public service. In 2004, Marano’s Township Committee salary was $2,500. In 2005, it went up to $2,625. In 2006, it increased to $2,750. In 2007, she was paid $3,000. In 2008, her pay increased to $3,150. In 2009, her salary increased to $3,650. (Compensation History, Green Brook Township, 2004-2009, New Jersey Open Public Records Request, Filled 8/19/19) 
• From 2014 until 2016, Russo used “Union Time” to accrue 1,012.5 hours of union time – the equivalent of 83 paid days off. Russo was only entitled to 10 days of union time a year, but took 361.5 hours in 2014, 372 hours in 2015, and 273 hours in the six months of 2016 that he was on the police force. (2014 – 2016 Time Off/ Union Time Activity Reports, Franklin Township, New Jersey Open Public Records Request, Filled 9/18/19) 

VO: Melonie Marano voted to raise property taxes twenty three percent in just two years… 

•  Marano voted for the 2008 and 2009 Township of Green Brook budgets. In 2007, the average municipal tax levied was $1,606. In 2009, the average municipal tax levied was $1,970.  (Township of Green Brook Budgets, 2008 and 2009, Independent Analysis) 

VO: …and gave herself pay raises. 

• From 2004 to 2009, Marano received five consecutive salary increases – one in each year of public service. In 2004, Marano’s Township Committee salary was $2,500. In 2005, it went up to $2,625. In 2006, it increased to $2,750. In 2007, she was paid $3,000. In 2008, her pay increased to $3,150. In 2009, her salary increased to $3,650. (Compensation History, Green Brook Township, 2004-2009, New Jersey Open Public Records Request, Filled 8/19/19) 

• Marano voted for at least three salary increases. In 2006, Marano voted for Resolution 2006-12-21. In 2007, Marano voted for the 2008 Salary Resolution. In 2008, Marano voted for Resolution 2008-12-10. All three resolutions increased the salary of elected officials in Green Brook. (Township of Green Brook Minutes, 12/28/06, 12/27/07, 12/30/08) 

VO: Darrin Russo got busted ripping off taxpayers – raking in tens of thousands of dollars for not working. 

• Cops in this N.J. town got paid for vacation and golf on ‘union time’. Dozens of officers at the embattled police department in Franklin Township, Somerset County cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars over several years by misusing an obscure paid time off policy, NJ Advance Media has learned. In an unsigned statement, the township officials acknowledged “dozens of officers have used hundreds of days of time” in violation of the contract’s terms. (Cops in this N.J. town got paid for vacation and golf on ‘union time’, NJ Advance Media, 8/13/19) 
• From 2014 until 2016, Russo used “Union Time” to accrue 1,012.5 hours of union time – the equivalent of 83 paid days off. Russo was only entitled to 10 days of union time a year, but took 361.5 hours in 2014, 372 hours in 2015, and 273 hours in the six months of 2016 that he was on the police force. (2014 – 2016 Time Off/ Union Time Activity Reports, Franklin Township, New Jersey Open Public Records Request, Filled 9/18/19) 

VO: In 2016, Russo got paid for a whole month – for not working! 

• In 2016, Russo took 273 hours of union time. Dozens of officers at the embattled police department in Franklin Township, Somerset County cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars over several years by misusing an obscure paid time off policy, NJ Advance Media has learned. In an unsigned statement, the township officials acknowledged “dozens of officers have used hundreds of days of time” in violation of the contract’s terms. (Township Reviewing ‘Union Time’ Paid Leave Taken By FTPD Officers For ‘Appropriateness’, Franklin Reporter and Advocate, 8/6/19)