BALWIERCZAK: PUBLIC SERVICE NOT FOR PROFIT, WOULD SLASH MAYORAL SALARY IF ELECTED!
PRONTI ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID PART-TIME MAYORS IN ALL OF BERGEN COUNTY!
NORTH ARLINGTON – Democratic candidate for mayor John Balwierczak is calling on the all-Republican Mayor & Council to stop increasing their salaries for the fifth time, and that he would slash the salary for mayor should he be successful in this race to upend two-term incumbent Dan Pronti, a real estate agent seeking a third term.
Currently, the North Arlington Mayor & Council is composed of all Republicans despite the fact more Democrats reside in the borough.
No Democrat has served since 2019.
“Public service is not about profit. Public service is a commitment to grass roots governance. Dan Pronti has now increased his annual salary to nearly $15,000 for attending one meeting per month. He is a part-time mayor trying to justify a salary that is higher than all surrounding local mayors. In a year where we can’t even get a tax bill on a timely basis, Pronti is awarding raises to himself and the entire council. It is nothing but leading from the back of the line,” offered the life-long resident and graduate of North Arlington High School. 
Balwierczak pointed out his criticisms of what he called “frivolous” pay hikes.
“What exactly did Dan Pronti, Donna Bocchino or Mario Karcic accomplish to warrant a pay hike? Did they lower property taxes? Is North Arlington safer today, more affordable? Is he protecting residents from massive overdevelopment or random reassessments? Shouldn’t residents have a say when elected officials arbitrarily and consistently award themselves a raise? This is why we need Democrats back on the Mayor & Council.”
Balwierczak correctly pointed out that Pronti’s salary is larger than every area mayor who serves in a part-time capacity.
“Here in North Arlington, we have a full-time Borough Administrator that only works three days a week earning close to $200,000 in salary and benefits. Why is Pronti making our full-time administrator a part-time service? Things are upside down in Borough Halll with MAGA Dan in charge,” blasted Balwierczak.
“A stipend for public service is reasonable. But the local Republicans have gone out-of-control with raises every budget. Does Dan realize that school board trustees are elected and cannot be paid under state law? Does he believe council members have a greater responsibility in terms of people, children and cost than a school board member? I would hope not,” said the candidate. 
New Jersey treats school board service and municipal elected office as fundamentally different kind of public service, which is why a Board of Education member cannot be paid while a mayor or council member can. In fact, School board members are specifically prohibited from receiving compensation and the New Jersey statute is unusually explicit:
N.J.S.A. 18A:12-4: “A member of a board of education shall receive no compensation for his services.”
This isn’t simply a matter of a particular town choosing not to pay for its school board. The state Legislature has prohibited compensation statewide. School board members can generally be reimbursed for legitimate expenses associated with their duties, but they aren’t supposed to receive a salary or stipend for service.
“We have four individuals seeking two school board seats this year. Two longtime, effective members and two individuals running for the first time backed by Pronti. Board races should be non-partisan and not politicized by politics.”
New Jersey also specifically provides procedures for setting or challenging compensation for municipal governing-body members, including the possibility of a voter referendum concerning their salaries.
“There is a mechanism for NA residents to determine the salaries of elected officials and Dan Pronti is imposing his own will and ignoring voters. If he could get away with it, he would try to turn the job full-time with a six-figure salary. That’s how arrogant he has become because no one is watching the store for taxpayers.” 
Balwierczak said he would donate half his salary to a permanent scholarship fund for North Arlington High School seniors and place a wage freeze on any future raises for the governing body of five years.
“This practice of awarding yourself a raise in the worst of times ends on my watch.”
Balwierczak noted that school board members control enormous public expenditures particularly employee contracts, construction, transportation, and school budgets. Making the position unpaid reinforces the concept that members are citizen representatives rather than paid government officials.
“The people that serve in this very critical capacity should be thanked and appreciated. The incumbents in this race have their priorities straight. They serve for the betterment of the school district and the community in a completely non-partisan, unpolitical manner.”
“School boards should not answer to Republicans or Democrats. That separation is particularly important in New Jersey because school budgets constitute a huge portion of local property taxes. Trustees adopt district policy, the school budget, curriculum, hire and fire, collectively bargain, oversee facility improvement and construction, and ultimately are accountable to taxpayers.”
“Dan Pronti doesn’t personally pick up the garbage, patrol the streets or govern on a day-to-day basis. The governing body administers, governs, and oversees municipal operations.
Balwierczak believes elective service on the Mayor & Council should not allow pension eligibility based on that stipend.
“No health insurance or other employee benefits. Compensation should be established before the election term begins. No Mayor & Council should increase its own compensation during an existing term of office.”
“I’m tired of Pronti leading from the back of the line, awarding raises to himself with no public scrutiny, accountability or transparency. This self-rewarding of raises by Pronti has gone on for too long.”
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