Reader: Why consolidation makes sense

I had the opportunity to attend the informational forum on Monday night at High Point High School on consolidating Sussex Borough and Wantage Township and I did so with an open mind. The Commissioners in favor of consolidation provided an excellent professional presentation showing both the positive and negative aspects of the proposed consolidation. The sole Commissioner who opposes the merger came to the forum as he put it, unprepared to make a presentation. I knew well before attending the meeting the names of the Commissioners scheduled to make presentations and the pro or con stance they were to present. This leaves me to wonder how he was unaware of this and attended without doing his homework. He offered no factual information and his major argument was that Sussex would benefit more than Wantage. It is clear that both the taxpayers of Sussex and Wantage would both benefit from consolidation; Sussex would surely benefit more than Wantage initially, but they would both benefit. The Commissioners explained in a clear and concise manner why this is true. Initially Sussex would benefit more because a much smaller population is supporting their government, which creates a much higher individual taxpayer cost to cover day to day governmental operating expenses. Over time savings would be more equally distributed over the entire new municipality of Sussex-Wantage. This consolidation would do nothing to eliminate our respective municipalities’ historical past. Our history would remain intact. Consolidation would eliminate the antiquated Township Committee form of government and afford us the ability to directly elect our mayor. Also eliminated would be the costly benefits given Township Committee members — part-time public servants, whose benefits cost taxpayers up to $30,000 per committee person. Concerns about costs to repair Sussex Borough’s sewer and water utilities were raised. The Commissioners assured that the utilities are consumer driven: all repair costs will be the responsibility of customers of those utilities. There is no need for Wantage homeowners to worry about shouldering the costs of repair and upgrades to the system. Our communities are intertwined, our futures are common, one government will ensure the best future for all. In an area where the size of government is a major concern we are offered an opportunity to eliminate an entire layer of government. Isn’t smaller government something most of the voters of Sussex and Wantage want? Consolidation provides the citizens savings now and more savings in the future. Vote yes for consolidation, vote yes for Sussex-Wantage. Bob Heiden Wantage Township