County Tax Freeze Sought by New Freeholder

In his first bid for a Morris County Freeholder seat, Washington Township’s John Krickus, along with running mates John Cesaro and David Scapicchio, won a three-year seat on the governing body and was sworn in Friday, Jan. 4.

Freeholder Tom Mastrangelo was chosen by his colleagues to be the group’s director for 2013. He replaces William Chegwidden who lost in the June 2012 Primary Election.

Krickus plans to get to work immediately and just as quickly stop spending, he said. “My top priorities are a 0-percent increase to operate county government, eliminating health benefits for freeholders as we are part time officials,” Krickus said in an email to Patch.

“I fully endorse the goal of freezing county property taxes, possibly for the first time ever, made possible in part by Governor Chris Christie’s arbitration, pension, and benefit reforms,” Krickus said when being sworn in Jan. 4.

“I will use my business experiences and work with the managers of county government to streamline and increase efficiency.”

Shown in a chart prepared by Krickus, county taxes rose by at least 3.9-percent each year since 2001. In 2002, taxes went up 11.5-percent–the highest amount in the 12-year period–according to the chart.

“Twenty years ago I first took the oath of office as a Washington Township Committeeman,” Krickus said. “At that time I refused to have the taxpayers of Washington Township pay for my health benefits, and today I refuse to have the taxpayers of Morris County pay for my health benefits.”

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders consists of Director Mastrangelo; Deputy Director David Scapicchio; Douglas Cabana; Cesaro; Ann Grossi; Krickus; and William Lyon.