To the Editor:

Over the past decade, our County Government, consisting of the County Executive with the Board of Seven Freeholders, have been managing a budget that has been increasing every year, that has resulted in Hamilton Township having the highest County tax levy (Times of Trenton dated June 11, 2014) and other towns being negatively impacted as well, including Princeton.

Last year as the federal, state, and local governments made a concerted effort to reduce spending, our county increased their budget by nearly $17 million, from $288.6M to $305.3M. It is not difficult to identify the reason — a one party, unresponsive Democrat rule.

In these economically challenging times, it is prudent to be reducing wasteful and non-essential spending, as others in our nation are doing, to effectively manage the budget, reduce taxes, and to lower the burden on the citizens. Every line item expense needs to be carefully reviewed, both for justification and suitability, to ensure that there is no more borrowing, to add our current debt and total deficit.

Special attention needs to be paid to the raising of salaries for officials prematurely (Times of Trenton Sept. 10, 2014.) This has been a much debated subject in our country and has resulted in the actions of several cities and counties being regarded as both inappropriate and disproportionate.

Our county should stay focused on providing an environment conducive to meet the needs of our local businesses and industries, and refrain from activities, like the 5-cent bag tax levy, contrary to counsel advice.

Mercer County needs a new voice with a fresh perspective to manage its budget and meet their responsibilities toward its citizens. With my financial and community-oriented background, I am seeking your support to be that voice, along with my colleague, Andrew Curcio,

Bhanu “Sunny” Kirpalani

Hamilton Republican candidate

for Mercer County Freeholder.