Politics & Government

Candidates Baillie and Wolkowitz Outline Objectives

Democratic candidates for Madison Borough Council say they aim to deliver services that residents expect while avoiding undue increases in their tax burden.

Candidates for Borough Council Astri Baillie and Ben Wolkowitz released the following announcement outlining their objectives for borough government.

Our joint campaign for Borough Council aims at achieving the objective of balancing the delivery of services our residents expect while avoiding undue increases in their tax burden.  Madison’s continuing decline in services and infrastructure repairs and annually increasing property taxes is unsustainable and unfair to our residents.  Yet the Council has not discussed a plan to reverse these trends nor has it produced a sensible budget we can all understand.  Unfortunately, the way the Council has handled the budget and financial planning over the past few years is not improving the situation.  If elected, we will:

  • Support a return to open and bi-partisan government.  Madison needs a Council that acts like one with open meetings, transparent decision-making and respect for its employees, volunteers and citizens. 
  • Initiate strategic long range planning and the development of a comprehensive capital plan to bring discipline and coherence to Council decision-making. 
  • Insure a thoroughly transparent budget process that leads to a budget that is consistent with the strategic plan and fully reflects the borough’s needs and priorities. 
  • Support basic infrastructure investment. Our sewage and water systems and many of our streets are in disrepair and often remain that way for unacceptably long periods. We must also apply for and obtain available state monies whenever possible to help address these needs. 
  • Support expanded shared services. We can achieve savings through expanded shared services arrangements with the Board of Education, neighboring towns and the region while protecting our Borough employees.
  • Continue to be advocates for sustainability and a healthy environment while saving money by aggressively incorporating new technologies that can bring financial as well as environmental benefits.
  • Protect Madison’s assets that include our vibrant downtown, culture and arts, our recreational facilities, and our relationship with our college and university neighbors. 
  • Support balanced development and the preservation of open space, recreational areas and historic Madison. Parkland adds to the beauty of the town, provides for both passive and active recreation, is good for the environment and increases our property values.

Madison is a great place and a great place to live.  We want to keep it that way.”

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