Luna’s “Lodi Update” almost one year later…

Tony Luna stated numerous times that the ground-breaking for the CVS and LA Fitness was scheduled for August/September 2015.  Tony Luna thought this information was so urgent, he sent out a mailing last April and tried to pay for it with Lodi tax dollars. 

There is a public notice today (March 29, 2016) that the Applicant/Redeveloper Crown Properties, LLC will go before the Lodi Planning Board on April 13th seeking a bulk variance.
 

http://www.njpublicnotices.com/Details.aspx?SID=rdfdizx1fecsvyrw3jja22x1&ID=1498967

There never was a ground-breaking scheduled for August/September 2015.

Tony Luna knew the ground-breaking would take place well after he retired as Borough Manager.  That would allow him an opportunity to make some extra cash for himself.

Is everyone aware that Tony Luna is now being paid by the Main Street developer?  

BOE budget: $64,742,349.

Using the  figures currently on the Board’s website, you will see an increase in the tax levy for next year.  The budget has ballooned but the tax levy hasn't gone up much.

It is inexcusable that taxes will be raised at all while the Board is spending $7.5 million on an office building for 24 employees.  Their surplus should have been used for tax relief.

The Board’s website shows their total appropriations for the current school year to be $56,404,490.   They show their total base budget for next year to be $64,742,349.  These figures need to be explained.  You don’t see swings like that from other districts.  They must be playing games for the building.

Here is a link to the complete agenda for last week’s board meeting:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/305788788/March-16-2016-BOE-Agenda

Municipal spending up. Municipal taxes up.

Total Amount to be Raised for Support of Municipal Budget:

2016:  $18,368,296.82 

2015:  $18,025,424.44

Increase: 1.9% ($ 342,872.38)

Operating Expenses

2016:  $18,217,500.00 

2015:  $17,505,498.00

Increase:  4.1% ($ 712,002)

Total General Appropriations

2016:  $ 25,502,444.72 

2015:  $ 25,029,006.44

Increase:  1.9% ($ 473,438.28)



Why would the Lodi Mayor and Council increase taxes and grow the surplus?  Because the five council seats were up last year.  Pad the budget off years.  Use the surplus for election years gimmicks.

The above only has to do with municipal spending.  Wait and see what happens to your school taxes in the near future with Capizzi's $7.5 million office.

Tony Luna is receiving payments from the developer of Lodi's Main Street.

Crown Properties is developing Lodi’s Main Street.  Joseph Marino is listed as principal of that LLC.  Tony Luna is now working for Joseph Marino (doing who knows what).  Tony Luna is a not a developer.  He is not a contractor.  He is not an engineer.  He is not an architect.  He is not a tradesman.

But he is receiving payments from the person developing Lodi’s Main Street.  He wasted no time.  He is only retired for a couple of months.

Tony Luna must have treated this developer really well when he was Borough Manager. 

Washington D.C. has nothing on Lodi.  The old revolving door.  In Washington, the unethical congress members become lobbyists shortly after leaving office.  They are paid top dollar for nothing more than political connections and influence peddling.

Maybe Luna is a lobbyist.