Residents press Lacey Township leaders over school spending, taxes and a possible YMCA site

During the public-comment segment of the Lacey Township Committee meeting, residents urged sharper budget scrutiny of the Lacey Township School District and pressed the committee for transparency about possible major projects.

Regina DeCenzo, who identified herself as a Sunrise Beach resident and former board member, criticized the school district's budget practices and called optional services such as transportation, food service and sports "optional" in the sense that they are not legally required by the district. She urged "severe cuts" in the Lacey Township School District to reduce property-tax pressure and accused the district of operating as a "Lacey Employment Agency" for friends and family. DeCenzo also reminded listeners of voter registration and primary deadlines and urged civic participation.

Steve Ball, who identified himself as the spokesperson for Concerned Lacey Township Taxpaying Citizens, raised several concerns about municipal transparency. He said he had learned of surveying on township property where the committee has discussed siting a municipal building or a YMCA, asked who commissioned the work and whether the township would be more transparent about major projects. He also urged the township to pursue reactivation or replacement of the local power plant to restore tax revenue to the municipality.

Mayor Kenneth and staff responded with budget context: the mayor described the township's annual budget as roughly $50 million — "We're also spending $50,000,000" — and said capital borrowing is used for equipment, fire trucks and projects. Finance staff noted the township's debt was approximately $20 million (approx.) and that the borough's bond rating is currently described in the meeting as "triple A," which affects borrowing costs. Officials emphasized that operating costs — in particular salaries and benefits and rising health-care costs — are the largest drivers of year-to-year increases in the tax burden.

Why it matters: Residents' criticisms focus attention on the school budget (which receives a larger share of property-tax bills) and on how the township balances capital projects and debt with taxpayer affordability. The committee said it is in the middle of budget deliberations and encouraged residents to attend upcoming budget meetings to ask questions.

Representative quotes from the meeting include Regina DeCenzo: "The board president said, The only thing we can do is raise taxes, and that's simply not correct." And Mayor Kenneth, explaining the municipal budget: "We're bringing in $50,000,000, and we're spending $50,000,000." The committee invited continued public input and said staff will provide additional budget detail at future meetings.