Milltown Homeowners Facing Huge Tax Hike
Various News Stories - October 1998 thru July 1999
 
Democratic Councilman Kevin Bosworth explained the $240,000 payment from Arisa was the developer's contribution to capital improvements. While Arisa is paying only part of the taxes it would normally pay, the borough is still collecting some revenue from them and from the Target Store which purchased the land on which it sits.
 
Bosworth acknowledged the borough council "used various surplus money that built up in its accounts like the water and sewer utility and the electric utility to keep taxes down in previous years, but those accounts are naturally replenished."

The proposed tax break for Arisa Realty would actually aid Milltown because Arisa would pay more than $1 million for a detention basin to stop flooding in town, countered Skarzynski, a 35-year-old councilman of three years. He said Arisa has already given Milltown a $240,000 payment that helped stabilize taxes this year.
 
Planning board member Anne Murray suggested postponing the vote because the developer has not paid the $240,000 due the township under an agreement to cover drainage and other infrastructure effects of the shopping center.
 
Acting on a suggestion from board attorney William Atken, members amended the resolution to revoke approval if the $240,000 and outstanding back taxes from the second quarter of this year are not paid by Dec. 31.
 
The borough council voted 4-1 on Dec. 30 for the agreement giving Arisa a 30-year tax abatement. Outgoing Democratic council members Cynthia Rader and Michael Skarzynski joined Democrats Kevin Bosworth and Eric Steeber in approving the deal. Democratic Councilman David Donegan was absent, and Republican Councilman Sean Leary abstained after saying the members lacked adequate time to thoroughly review the document.
 
Buck said it annoyed him to see the council approve the tax break on Dec. 30, instead of waiting two days for him and Bradford to take their council seats.
 
The Democrats mortgaged the future of Milltown by giving away a 30-year tax abatement (to Arisa Realty owners of East Mill Village) for a one-time contribution of $240,000. This one-time contribution was used entirely to balance last year's budget. It was irresponsible for these funds to be used to balance last year's budget. Instead it should have been used to relieve Milltown of some of its long-term debt.
 
Councilman Kevin Bosworth explained the $240,000 payment from Arisa was the developer's contribution to capital improvements. While Arisa is paying only part of the taxes it would normally pay, the borough is still collecting some revenue from them and from the Target Store which purchased the land on which it sits.