OCTOBER 15, 2015, 9:48 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015, 9:53 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The candidates for Bergen County Freeholder sparred on taxes and the costs of a new Public Works facility in Paramus on Thursday in their first debate of this year’s campaign.
But they found agreement, for the most part, on the need to do more about an epidemic of heroin addiction.
The Republicans and one Libertarian candidate argued that the county needs to do more to cut spending.
GOP candidate Ken Tyburczy contended that more Republicans were needed on the Board of Freeholders to question spending by the Democratic-controlled county administration.
“We do need a check and balance,” Tyburczy said. “If there’s not a check, how can we possibly control the spending?”
Democratic Freeholder Steve Tanelli noted that in 2014, the Democratic-controlled board passed a budget that had no tax increase.
Tanelli also noted that this year’s budget — which included a 4.3 percent tax increase — won unanimous bipartisan approval from the board.