Secession Idea Not a 'Petty, Political Ploy,' Berkeley Heights Mayor Says

The decision of whether to try to secede from Union County or not now rests in the hands of township voters after Berkeley Heights Council members unanimously voted to place the question on the November ballot.

Township Mayor Joe Bruno argues that the county has mismanaged its budget, resulting in higher taxes for residents, and has failed to provide adequate services, according to a previous NJ.com report. The discussion on how the township might secede from Union County and join Morris County began at a council meeting in May. 

If township residents vote to move forward with the secession, Morris County and the State of New Jersey will ultimately have a say in the final decision. 

During the Tuesday meeting, Councilman Bob Woodruff discussed a list he received from Bruno about special programs and services being funded around Union County with county taxpayer funds. Of the $3.45 million allocated for those programs and services, the township will only receive about $14,000, which represents just 0.31 percent of the total allocation of funds.

“These are good programs by and large,” Bruno said, “but you can tell the towns that are ‘friendly’ with the county. They get the lion’s share of it.”

Bruno said the council’s idea of seceding from Union County has been called a “petty, political ploy” by unnamed parties. The mayor said “that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Bruno said he’s upset with the way Union County has handled taxpayer money, which basically comes down fiscal management throughout the state.

“There’s got to be a way to make New Jersey affordable," the mayor said. "It’s a great state. We have everything we could possibly want in the state of New Jersey to live from cradle to grave.  We have beaches; we have mountains; we have proximity to the major cities. We have history; we have culture. You name it; we have it in New Jersey. We’re compact. Unfortunately, you can live here for a certain time and then it becomes a struggle, and it shouldn’t be. Everyone goes to Florida. It’s hot in Florida." 

Bruno said taxes throughout the state are crazy, which makes New Jersey unaffordable, and it’s not necessarily because of the services residents see.

“It’s pensions, it’s salaries. It’s duplication of services. It’s redundancy,” Bruno said. “If you do things the same way, why would you expect different results? Since 1789, we’ve been doing things the same way in this state. Is there any reason why taxes are high? It’s a colonial state. We have freeholders. We have local, county and state government. We have 566 towns in the State of New Jersey. We have 566 mayors, administrators, and 21 counties. Do we need all of this government? I don’t believe so.”

Bruno says the idea of seceding from Union County is his “attempt to say ‘enough is enough.’” 

A move to Morris County would save Berkeley Heights taxpayers $7 million per year.

Bruno did acknowledge that it would be difficult to make the jump across the river, and would require residents to believe in it and get behind it.

“Can it be done? I don’t know. But we’re going to try,” Bruno said. “It has nothing to do with politics. It’s keeping more money in my pocket because right now, when I stand up, there are so many hands in my pocket that I don’t have room for my own. I know most of you folks feel the same way.” 

The resolution was approved, 5-0. Councilman Kevin Hall was not present at the meeting.