Mayor Bencivengo also proposed the raise for himself and his department directors and other township employees in a specific and very public ordinance. That is also good.
The proposed salary increases have generated a lot of anger and backlash from the taxpayers.
Sound familiar?
At least Mayor Bencivengo has been open and above board with the way he has gone about proposing the salary increase. Mayor Bencivengo has also realized that by taking his raise off the table he shows he understands the feelings of the taxpayers.
Let's point out right now that Mayor Bencivengo oversees the operation of a municipality more than five times the size of the city of Trenton. Hamilton's population is at least 10% greater than Trenton's and growing while Trenton's is shrinking. Hamilton's bond rating was recently improved due to it's sound financial management.
And one last point, Mayor Bencivengo (and Mayor Gilmore before him as the salary hasn't increased in a decade) earns about 78% of what Doug Palmer takes home for
Are you paying attention, Doug? Or is it all the state's fault?
