Where Team Mahwah Stands

PILOTs. You may have heard the term, but what do they actually mean? A PILOT, or Payment in Lieu of Taxes, is a different way for a municipality to receive payments from certain redevelopment projects. But there's more to the story than just the payment.

PILOTs can affect municipal revenue, schools, redevelopment, affordable housing, infrastructure and the long-term finances of a community. Whether a PILOT makes sense can depend heavily on the specific project and the agreement that is negotiated. For example, one important question is: will the project create significant additional demand on our schools? If so, that can change the financial considerations considerably.

• How is the payment calculated?
• Does the payment increase over time?
• What happens if the project becomes much more profitable than expected?
• What benefits does the community receive?
• How long does the agreement last?

PILOTs aren't simply "good" or "bad." They're a municipal financing tool, and the details of the deal matter. At Team Mahwah, we believe PILOTs should be looked at project by project, with careful consideration of the financial terms, impact on our schools and municipal services, community benefits and the long-term interests of Mahwah residents.

Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities of local government. Mahwah's police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and volunteers dedicate themselves every day to protecting our community and being there when residents need them most.

At Team Mahwah, we will continue to make public safety a priority. That means supporting our police department with the modern vehicles, equipment, technology, training and resources our officers need to keep Mahwah safe. It means continuing to maintain and improve our fire stations and EMS facilities, investing in lifesaving technology like LUCAS automated CPR devices and providing our firefighters and EMS personnel with the equipment they need to respond when seconds matter.

We will also continue supporting the volunteer stipend program to help recruit and retain the men and women who give their time to serve our community. Along with recruitment and retention, we will support training, facility improvements, emergency equipment and the resources necessary to keep our response system strong and prepared.