Asbury Park Press front page, Saturday, February 21, 2015
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HOME DELIVERY ADVANTAGE! Coupons inside today only for home delivery subscribers. To subscribe to the Asbury Park Press, call 1-800-822-9779 . S A V E UP TO $92 7 Asbury Park Press APP .COM $1.00 SA TURDA Y02.21.15 I t sounds like a punchline, but it’s not: In some Jersey Shore towns, residents can literally eat their way to lower property taxes. Under this innovative program, a handful of towns in Monmouth and Ocean counties have what they say is a win-win program: Residents who shop at in-town businesses will get a percentage of the purchase back as a credit on their property tax bill. The businesses win by attracting more customers, while residents save on their property tax bill by simply having a slice of pizza or their clothes dry-cleaned in town. GETTING BACK A PIECE OF THE PIE 1 0% toward your taxes (Split 7.5% taxpayer/2.5% third party administration fee) for every $50 you spend $3. 75 property tax credit earned for every $100 you spend $7.50 property tax credit earned Shopataparticipating business inyourtownandthe business will s endapercentage ofthe billbackas ac redit againstyour propertytaxes. How cool is that? DAN RADEL @DANIELRADELAPP GOT TAXES? EAT PIZZASee TAXE S, Page A7 JACKSON— Mayor Michael J. Reina now has joined the ranks of the “double-dippers,” those public officials who receive two taxpayer-funded salaries for two gov- ernment jobs. His combined compensation now ex- ceeds $100,000. Using his political connections as a major player in Ocean County Republican politics, Reina has been able to boost his annual income from about $53,000 in 2010 to $1 09,000 in 2015. He took a circuitous route to t wo-check status. Just before Christmas, the Board of Freeholders voted to appoint Reina as assistant superintendent of bridges in the Ocean County Road Department, at an annual salary of $79,500, effective Jan. 2. Freeholder James F. Lacey, who is chairman of transportation on the board, nominated Reina to the office even though the Jackson mayor has no engineering background. Earlier this week, Ed Bennett, 72, a registered Re- publican from Jackson who is also Reina’s next door neighbor, addressed the freeholder board to criticize the appointment. Bennett said Reina was an example of the “good old boys’ way” in Ocean County. “An assistant superintendent should have a degree in engineering,” Bennett told the board Wednesday. “He should have knowledge of bridging. … If you are really looking out for the taxpayer as you claim, be hon- est and do the right thing. Your job is to cut costs. You were voted in to keep the government honest and clean WATCHDOG Mayor takes back salary, lands second publ i c post ERIK LARSEN @ERIK_LARSEN See DOU BLE , Pag e A7 Polar plunger is on a streak: A dip a day since Sept. 1 JAY SCOTT SMITH @JAYSCOTTAPP
