The Council often points to schools, fire, and the county when taxes rise, but Franklin’s budget is 100% their responsibility.
Our budget is the Council’s job —and Lezny, Brant, Georges, and Guy are qualified to manage it.
"When will our taxes go down?"
- A Canal Walk Resident
What the Council Controls
When taxes rise, the Council often points to the schools, fire districts, or Somerset County. But Franklin’s Council still controls the entire municipal portion of your tax bill - and their decisions really matter.
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Municipal Budget: salaries, services, road paving, recreation, township facilities, legal fees, and contracts.
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Debt & Borrowing: how much the township bonds and how it’s repaid.
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Development Approvals: zoning, ordinances, and incentives — decisions that can generate revenue or trigger costly lawsuits.
⚖️ Bottom line: No matter what the portion of the total bill, the Council is fully responsible for approving Franklin’s budget.
That’s why Lezny, Brant, Georges, and Guy are running — they bring expertise in budgets, housing, warehouses, and workforce development. They have the skills to manage Franklin’s finances responsibly and keep our community affordable.
Regarding Warehouses
Despite MORE warehouses being built, Franklin received $1.53 million LESS from industrial assessments in 2025 vs. 2024. While your residential assessments rose, warehouses paid less! That means the tax burden shifted more heavily onto homeowners.
In 2025, 170 industrial parcels — including warehouses — showed no increase in their total assessment compared to 2024, representing over $2.02 billion in property assessment values that didn't change. So, while homeowners saw sharp increases, industrial assessments remained flat, effectively shifting the tax burden onto Franklin families. (See for yourself. Click here and filter for 4B Industrial under "Filter by class").