A call from Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney to redraw the lines of small towns has many Northern Valley residents saying, "Not my town."
McNerney said that a merger of municipalities with less than 10,000 residents would chip away the $14 million Bergen County deficit, according to his State of the County address made two weeks ago. Northern Valley towns like Closter, Northvale and Alpine would be affected.
Residents voiced their concerns following the county address, listing everything from the impact on home values to the layoffs of unionized workers.
"While there are ways to save money through regional purchasing power, I doubt if there would be major savings [under McNerney’s plan]," said Closter resident Steve Isaacson.
Isaacson said that for years municipal governments have looked to share services in a move toward what he calls "regionalization." While shared services agreements do save taxpayer dollars, a complete merger of police departments and Departments of Public Works would create a union upset.
The proposal would place not only a larger budget in the control of fewer people, but more power, he added.
Parent and homeowner Lisa Stern, of Demarest, said that the plan was unacceptable.
"We all have different tax rates and home values based on the town we live in," she said. "Would we then be assessed?"
Stern then said that regarding a merger of school districts, the state and county already give "us almost no money towards our schools.
"Would they really lower our taxes, or just divert more of our tax dollars to other failing systems?" she said.
Harrington Park resident Olive Hay said she feared the loss of the "small town identity," although she does support a merger of school districts to reduce rising costs.
"The mayors do all they can for the seniors," said Hay, who is a Club 60 member. "People that do [work] locally are the people [that] do it because they care. It’s probably costing them more in other ways."
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