IF CHRIS BROWN CAN'T COUNT CARS, CAN HE BE TRUSTED WITH TAX DOLLARS?

         “The inability of Evesham Councilman Chris Brown to accurately count the number of township-owned motor vehicles is a crystal clear sign that he’s incapable of dealing with larger budgetary and fiscal issues,” said Burlington County Republican Chairman Bill Layton today.

         Layton said that Brown, Democratic candidate for County Freeholder, disputed the count of 225 township-owned vehicles even though the figure was supplied by his own Administration in response to an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request and supported by the Township Manager in a newspaper article.

         In a more recent story, Brown disputed the “count,” claiming that it included lawn equipment.

         (Copies of the OPRA request and response as well as the news articles are attached.)

          “Being unable to determine the size of the township fleet and putting himself at odds with his own Administration speaks volumes about the utter lack of Chris Brown’s qualifications for higher office,” Layton said.  “Moreover, his attempt to divert attention away from his lack of knowledge by arguing about how the vehicle count was carried out suggests strongly that he places political trickery above public truth.”

         Layton said the failure of Brown and his Democrat colleagues on the Council to enact a municipal budget in a timely fashion is but another indication that Brown “lacks the most fundamental grasp of spending and tax issues.”

         “While other municipal governments in the County acted promptly to put budgets in place, Evesham isn’t due to act until next week,” Layton said.  “The unconscionable delay, however, can’t hide the fact that the local purpose tax rate will rise by 27 per cent; overall taxes will go up by a staggering $4.3 million; and that the Council was forced to ask the state for a waiver to exceed the statutory four per cent cap on tax rate increases.”

         “Counting motor vehicles is a rather simple exercise while  crafting a responsible budget which protects taxpayers and holds the line on taxes and spending is a little more difficult,” Layton said.  “Chris Brown has demonstrated he can’t do either one.

”We stand by the 225 number that was given to us, and contrary to Councilman Brown’s lame protest, we weren’t counting weed whackers and lawnmowers!”