Iwas somewhat shocked when I received my tax bill for August. How are people like young families and the senior citizens of this town on fixed incomes going to be able to keep their homes? The Board of Education is out of sight with the budget it came in with, and on top of in with, and on top of that, there was an increase in the municipal budget.

Why is it so important that we have programs for those who cannot speak the language? That should not be the responsibility that is put on the taxpayers of this town. People who have chosen to come here should take on their own responsibility to learn the language. No one paid for our forefathers to learn it.

Why is it necessary that we employ so many people in our education system? My children went through the East Brunswick school system, and in no way at that time did we have the amount of employees that we have currently. We have assistants to the assistants. Why can't we use more substitutes at less pay instead of the teachers on their free periods at full pay?

What is happening on the municipal side of the budget? It is out of sight. I served as personnel manager for many years in East Brunswick prior to Mayor William Neary, and keeping the budget down was paramount. If our

residents think this is bad now, wait until the Golden Triangle comes in. It was supposed to be for senior housing, now it is open to families with children. What is that impact going to be on the school system? I know … we will need more teachers and more administrators and more aides.

I served as the consumer affairs officer in East Brunswick, under the state Department of Consumer Affairs, to ensure that our businesses were not cheating our residents. I served on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and our responsibilities were to ensure that residents knew what they could or could not do to their homes and properties.

I look around and cannot believe what the Planning Board and the administration are doing. There is no conscious effort made by these bodies, including the Board of Education, to ensure that residents get a fair share and are able to continue to afford to live here in their homes.

Just ride around town and see how many homes are for sale and still on the market since March. You never saw that amount of homes up for sale before - they were snapped up in no time because it was an affordable town in which to live. A family starting out now cannot afford to live here. That is sad. Now they want to put up 90 units off Ryders Lane for ages 55 and older. Stating they will only have one car is ludicrous. The parking and the traffic will be a nightmare. Who are they kidding?

Take a look at our Township Council members. Everyone votes the same (maybe there is one who does not). These people are voted in by our residents, and as elected officials it is their responsibility and obligation to make decisions based on what is best for the town and the residents. Not happening. They are led around by the nose by the mayor and administration. How bad can it get? It is scary.

Mary A. Tonachio is a resident of East Brunswick