Issues

Property Taxes

Doug Cabana understands that economic times are tough and that working families are struggling now more than ever. It is no secret that property taxes are choking the life out of Morris County taxpayers. Since the takeover of state government in 2002, the legislature has imposed 102 new taxes on New Jersey residents, which translates into approximately one new tax per month!

In 2006 the state sales tax was increased from six cents on the dollar to seven cents. How much of that increase went to the municipalities from which they came? We must ensure that local communities get their "fair share" of return on these sales tax dollars. In addition, we need to reduce property and income taxes on working families and homeowners. We must find effective ways to provide incentives to business to locate and stay in New Jersey so they can create jobs, and we must streamline and make more efficient in how it spends our hard-earned dollars".

We must stop this "tax-happy" method of governing.

COAH

COAH, which stands for the Council on Affordable Housing, has long-term harmful effects for our towns, and hold our local officials hostage to unrealistic goals. Impractical COAH quotas will further diminish our precious open space. This is a flawed program that the state implemented without sufficient local input into its creation, or local control over its implementation. I will fight hard against this program, which does nothing but place an undue hardship on our communities, police, fire, EMS, schools and roads.

School Choice

Give families choice in education - pure and simple. Parents should decide where their children attend school. I will share more detailed views and ideas as the campaign progresses, but suffice it to say that we cannot hinge our children’s educational needs now, with promises of an improved school system in the future.

Initiative and Referendum

I firmly believe in Initiative and Referendum. Voters should be allowed to decide the key issues that affect their lives. Initiative and Referendum can help diminish political resistance to issues, and provide citizens with a tool to gauge government efficiency. However, certain safeguards, checks and balances must be in place to ensure that Initiative and Referendum will not be abused.