AN NA TODAY EXCLUSIVE:
ARE PROPERTY TAXES INCREASING?
ABSOLUTELY!
DEL RUSSO & DECICCO ARE JUST “YES” VOTES FOR HIGHER TAXES!
NORTH ARLINGTON – Be it the massive overdevelopment of Ridge Road that breeds traffic, congestion and decreased parking along with higher property taxes, a random search of properties around the community are seeing consistent tax hikes despite the delusional denials of Mayor Dan Pronti and his partisan puppets, Kirk De Russo and political neophyte Amanda DeCicco.
And despite the fact that no Democrat has served on the governing body since 2019, some six years ago, partisans like Pronti try to figure our new ways to blame Democrats for their inability to govern!
Consider the following:
Councilman Mario Karcic (R) announced a $1 million dollar hole in this year’s budget, but no plan to cut spending or reduce expenditures was even considered. Karcic has been forever “mute” on the subject since!
The Borough Council appropriated $1.5 million dollars for an empty and dormant building on River Road which they described as an “emergency” appropriation, but what is the emergency? That was never revealed to the public!
$353,190.17 in legal fees and retainers from our Borough Attorney since 1/1/24 through July of 2025. Why is North Arlington drowning in legal fees? Just specifically are these “fees and services” and is there a single council member qualified or interested in monitoring these bills?
A $200,000 out-of-court settlement approved by Del Russo and DeCicco for a former library employee by the all-Republican Council. What was the reason for this “secret settlement” since no one seems to know why this was approved?
Nearly $100,000 in tax refunds thanks to successful tax appeals by about a dozen property owners in North Arlington just at the last council meeting alone.
A record shattering $6.1 million dollars was approved in a single meeting and Del Russo and now DeCicco has joined him as another reliable, Pronti soldier and “yes” vote! 
And while tax refunds and successful tax appeals tell you all you need to know about Pronti’s highly unpopular and unfair tax assessments, the overall spike in property taxes can no longer be denied.
Seniors this week were outraged by the increases and agreed all Republicans all of the time is a recipe for economic disaster for North Arlington.
“The talk of the town is property taxes and these assessments. The sentiment for change is now at a boiling point,” offered one longtime borough resident when asked to comment.
But one only needs to review property tax records online to see these “spikes” in taxes year over year:
One Melrose Avenue property saw property taxes increase $882.07 from 2024 to 2025.
A Chestnut Street home saw property taxes increase $429.01 from 2024 to 2025.
Another property on Bergen Avenue saw a sharp spike of $1,001.20 from 2024 to 2025.
Another home on Eighth Street also realized an increase of $536.67 from 2024 to 2025.
Pick a neighborhood or street and the increases are sharp, consistent and continuing in 2026!
“The silence on the Republican side of the aisle is deafening. Are they even allowed to have an opinion or speak out? Watching Pronti coddle his candidate and protect them from any sense of accountability and transparency is debilitating to our grass roots democracy. They hate the notion of two-party government with a passion that is obnoxious and disturbing. What are they afraid of? Maybe it’s time for a debate this year so these simple questions can be answered. We’re not running against Pronti, we’re running against his cronies,” offered council hopeful John Balwierczak.
“It’s time for his candidates to stand on their own two feet,” offered Balwierczak.
“Attack me personally all you want. I’ll attack their failed record while promoting my promise to keep North Arlington affordable for tenants, working families and seniors and those struggling to remain a North Arlington resident.”
“They are raising taxes, not me. They are urbanizing North Arlington and I’m for keeping NA small, safe and suburban,” offered the candidate.
To meet the candidates, call (201) 655-8497.