Politics & Government

Gerald Turning Running Unopposed for Tinton Falls Mayor

Turning currently serves as the borough administrator.

By Christopher Sheldon

Gerald Turning is running unopposed for mayor of Tinton Falls after Michael Skudera chose not to seek another therm.

Turning currently serves as the borough administrator, and was endorsed by Skudera this summer.

We asked Turning two questions about the borough and his answers are printed verbatim below:

1. What do you believe is the main issue facing Tinton Falls?  

The main issue facing the residents of Tinton Falls is the threat of rising property taxes. No one, me included, likes to receive a tax bill in the mail with an increase in property taxes. That is why, over the past four years as Borough Administrator working closely with Mayor Skudera, we have strived to maintain a stabilized tax rate and to keep tax increases at or near the cost of inflation.

Spending has to be controlled; it is as simple as that. We live in a beautiful community that I describe to others as being “alive.” Uncontrolled spending results in massive property tax increases that do nothing but drain the life and spirit out of a community. I will not let that happen.

I have worked for this Borough for almost thirty-five years through the ranks of the Police Department, as Chief of Police and currently as the Borough Administrator. My wife and I, as well as my son and his family, live in Tinton Falls. So, you could say that I have a personal stake in this community. As Mayor, I will continue working to keep Tinton Falls strong, vibrantly alive and a place we can all be proud to call our home. 

2. What specific steps would you take to address this issue?  

Over the past years, this same question has been asked of our politicians during every election cycle. The difference for me is that I am able to answer this question by sharing history. I am willing to and have made difficult decisions that are in the best interest of the taxpayers and not necessarily popular.

For example, fifteen years ago, as Police Chief, I entered into a Shared Service Agreement with the County of Monmouth to share police dispatch services. This was not a popular decision but the average savings for the Borough based on this one decision has been $250,000.00 per year. Multiply that by the fifteen years thus far and that adds up to a $3,750,000.00 savings to the taxpayers in Tinton Falls with absolutely no loss of service to the community.

More recently, this year, the Borough entered into a Shared Service Agreement with the Borough of Eatontown and Monmouth Beach to operate a shared Municipal Court. This agreement will net a profit to the Borough of Tinton Falls in excess of $75,000.00 per year. Therefore, shared services, controlled spending and continuing to operate the Borough in a fiscally responsible manner are the main steps I will take to address the issue of rising property taxes in Tinton Falls.


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