Taxpayers may soon be faced with a 25 percent increase as the result of a record $13 million budget deficit in Mercer County.
Newly elected mayor John Bencivengo will present his budget to the possible dismay of taxpayers, who could feel the brunt of the deficit. Though he cannot reveal how the deficit was found, he believes that the economic problem was created by his predecessors.
"When it comes to spending public money, you must go to the council to ask for any dollar to be spent,? says Bencivengo. ?This administration did not do so."
Former mayor, Glen Gilmore, denies any wrong doing, calling the proposed tax hike ?outrageous?.
A state investigation has begun into the $13 million loss.