Mayor Sal Bonaccorso often talks up Clark’s town services, like leaf pickup and branch removal, as if they’re special favors. But shouldn’t every town offer these as part of the basics? Services like these aren’t perks—they’re what we expect for our tax dollars. Yet, the mayor makes it sound like only he can keep them going. Is that really true? And can we trust the current leadership to protect the services we rely on?
Cuts to Town Staff: What’s Really Going On?
Here’s what hasn’t been widely shared: back in 2022, Clark’s Department of Public Works (DPW)—which handles essential tasks like leaf pickup, snow removal, and street repairs—employed 19 full-time and 2 part-time workers. Fast forward to today, and that number has quietly dropped to 14 full-time workers, with no part-time help. These cuts happened after a scandal involving the mayor in 2022, and they haven’t been openly discussed in town meetings. Fewer workers mean it’s harder to keep our streets clean and services running smoothly. Why hasn’t this been addressed?
The timing of these staff cuts raises real questions. It looks like these cuts were made to help fix a budget hole, one largely created by issues in the mayor’s own administration. If town services are really safe, why would we be cutting the very people who are out there every day, taking care of our town? And why isn’t the mayor being upfront about these cuts?
Tax Hikes and Service Cuts: Clark Deserves Better
In 2023, the town saw a 9% tax increase—money that comes directly out of the pockets of hardworking families in Clark. Yet, even with that big tax hike, the DPW workforce has shrunk, and our essential services are at risk. Paying more in taxes but getting less in service doesn’t feel right, and it’s not the conservative way. The mayor talks about keeping service quality high, but if he’s cutting the people who provide these services, can we really believe him?
A Call for Stronger, Transparent Leadership in Clark
Clark deserves better. We need leaders who won’t quietly reduce our services or raise taxes without being clear about why. We need leadership that will protect and improve our town services, not make us pay more while cutting the workforce in charge of keeping our community running. Stronger Clark has a clear vision: to restore confidence in town services, to be honest with residents, and to make certain that our tax dollars go toward keeping our town safe, clean, and well-maintained.
It’s time for a real commitment to our town’s future, led by people who will put Clark’s needs first. Let’s see that Clark has the leadership to strengthen our services, support our workers, and make our community a safer, better place for everyone.
