Eric Scott
Natural disasters are expensive. The costs for clean-up from Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and the October snowstorm are into the hundreds of millions. Many towns will ask for exemptions from the state to exceed that phantom two-percent property tax cap to cover their clean-up costs. That will likely increase your property tax bill for next year, and perhaps years to come. Once taxes go up, they rarely -- if ever -- come down.
I had a great time this week in Atlantic City. I was there for the start of the state's mayors' meeting. I saw some old friends, made some new ones, and took a few chips off the craps table. I felt safe, the streets were clean, I had no trouble parking, and easily hailed a cab. However, I won't be rushing back with my family anytime soon.