| Author |
Message |
    
Jur050
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2001 - 12:59 pm: |     |
I am concerned at what has been happening to our Town. I love Maplewood. I have enjoyed living here, laying down roots for my family. It is frustrating to watch, as some residents, new or old, become saddled with new tax increases. The burden of which has changed the future prospects for many residents, and in turn our Town. Sure, for some, the rates go down, but what is the net effect? The East and West are now somehow pitted against one another. Is this occurring as a result of our chosen leaders? The method and the timing of this increase on the heels of the election is one thing, but who is at fault?
I think it is time for "Proven Leadership" to show some "Proven Results!" I appeal to the Township Committee to address this issue. It seems to me that the TC has had too many balls in the air. They didn't recognize the extent of the reval's impact on the community. They ought to recognize it now! There was much focus on the Springfield Avenue project, and not enough on the effects of the reval on residents.
Please focus on what action you can, and should, take, to insure that the future of Maplewood as you see it, coinsides with that of its residents. Remember, your constituancy is not just those people who voted for you this last time, you represent all Maplewoodians. Step up, it's time to show true leadership! |
Skokian
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2001 - 5:24 pm: | |
The taxes went up because for the past few years the taxes have been extremly low and high in places where the people cant take the burden so now its time to change that. |
Overtaxdalready
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2001 - 6:33 pm: | |
Please enlighten me. Where, exactly, in Maplewood have taxes been "extremely low"? |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2001 - 9:05 pm: | |
If your new assessment is up a lot from your old one it means that your taxes were low, and it also means that someone else in town (like me) has been overpaying to compensate for you. |
Nilmiester
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2001 - 10:38 pm: | |
No it doesn't. I already pay 8,000 and now am going to pay almost 10,000 and I don't live on the hill. You have NOT been subsidizing me. Maplewood needs to get a grip on it's spending. |
Jur050
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2001 - 11:21 pm: | |
"Caveat Emptor," let the buyer beware. Well, many new residents were totaly uninformed that the increased tax burden they would face would be so dramatic. If they did, they probably wouldn't have purchased their homes here.
Many long time residents expected increases, but no where near the levels that are proposed. The shift in revenue base is tearing at the fiber of this town. It only makes sense to make this type of shift more gradual. Please, let's work together and consider some form of compromise.
Maplewood is changing, it always has been. However, most change here has been gradual. This attempt to fix things deserves a closer look. |
Overtaxdalready
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 6:54 am: | |
Well put Nilmeister. It's laughable for anyone to assume that we've been "underpaying" taxes. |
Tgb
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 10:26 am: | |
Once again: if the reval is supposed to just "adjust the tax-burden" and people on the west side of Maplewood are getting (no one can disagree with this) a HUGE TAX increase are people on the east getting a huge tax decrease?
Like 6,000-7,000 decrease?
Funny when people complain about their taxes going higher (they were high to start) the "east-siders" brand them as divisive.
But I see a lot of east-siders using the "have vs. have nots", the race card and now "the we have been paying all the taxes in town" argument for too long. Talk about divisive. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 11:19 am: | |
What would you have us do, Tgb, continue to pay disproportionately so that you can continue to be comfortable? We're not talking about recouping anything that we've lost over the years! We just don't want to continue to subsidize the wealthier side of town. And let's not pretend that the folks on the Jefferson side of town, as a group, don't have more income and more buying power than those of us on the Hilton (border) side. Of course there are some exceptions in both directions. But overall, those are the facts, like it or not.
For those who want to claim that it's their "wise investments" that got them where they are, give it up. People buy what they can afford. We couldn't afford to look at anything outside of the Hilton area when we purchased 9 years ago. And that was with an FHA loan and help from family. Our economy simply rewards different kinds of work differently. It's not a matter of educational degrees or harder work. In our household of two adults and one child, there are 3 master's degrees and we work darn hard for the pittance that social work pays. A new graduate with a BA in Business can easily make the same as or more than I do despite the fact that I've been in the field over 20 years. Is that individual's work more important than mine? Not really. Is it valued more highly for compensation purposes? You bet.
What I don't think is fair is the notion that those of us who have paid disproportionately should continue to do so. I already pay over 6000 dollars for a house that would sell for 25 to 30% of what my friends' and neighbors' homes can command on the open market on the Jefferson side of town. And no, my taxes will not decrease by 5 or 6 thousand. More like 1600 or so. Part of why you're not hearing an even exchange on the the numbers is land value. We have smaller lots packed in more closely. I would be willing to bet that if you looked at the land parcels on the edges of town you would see significant differences in the sheer number of lots squeezed in. Anyone have a map that could be posted that we could view?
This property tax issue is not about socialism or anything like it. It's about capitalism, market forces, and the notion that the market is THE objective standard for valuing both property and work. Welcome to capitalism and the almighty dollar.
Bacata |
Overtaxdalready
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 12:19 pm: | |
And you bought your house knowing full well what the tax burden was, and probably expecting reasonable increases year to year.. Now the sudden increase of 70% in a single year for some folks makes sense to you. I'm sure the concept of "subsidizing" the other side of town never crossed your mind until recently. You planned your budget based on what you expected your burden to be. You don't think we do the same? |
Tgb
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 7:46 am: | |
You talk just like some over-educated elitist, who choose a career not for the money but for helping people. I commend you on that. But that was your choice, I was a Wall St. stockbroker for 7 years who left to become a middle school teacher in West Orange. That was my choice, I also live over by Clinton School on Richmond Avenue. So spare me your "do-gooder crap" that your paying some one elses freight".
The renaisaance of Maplewood was in those areas and the town has screwed it up.
We probably flip the bill for your pay check with more of our taxes.
And if you were getting the kind of tax increase that some are getting you would be screaming to high heaven.
My concern is that I do think the town will get more tax dollars and that this is more than just a tax burden adjustment. |
Tracks
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 12:01 pm: | |
The problem is not the reval, or Maplewood officials. It is the stupid propery tax system that NJ uses. To completely fund our local schools with local taxes does not work. Trenton is totally out of whack with how the rest of the country deals with this problem. Lets' only hope that Whitmans replacement and whomever wins next year makes a real effort to solve this problem. |
Jur050
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 1:17 pm: | |
Yeah Tracks, shift the blame! As you do it though, make note of the fact that NJ has the highest property taxes in the nation. Do you know why? Do a little research.
You will find that the spending increases for all kinds of projects find their way into permenent funding in our state budget. Our income taxes don't really come back to our state, thanks mainly to our Senators representing us in Washington, so that leaves our property taxes.
That is why our TC officials should have been beating down doors in Trenton, to obtain funding for our schools. In particular, Maplewood, due to the large percentage of it's residential properties, suffers more than others in the state.
I'm glad Mr. De Luca and the BOE are going to Trenton. Who are you seeing during your visits Vic? Can we help? Trenton can help with money to offset to the property tax situation, but you gotta go after it! |
Tracks
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 3:24 pm: | |
So you agreee jur050 that the blame should be placed in Trenton? I did the research. I know the reasons. Trenton wastes money, the two US Senators have failed to get NJ their fair share, and the local assemblyperson and state senator do not have enough clout. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 6:23 pm: | |
So, Tgb, you made enough money at the stock market that you could afford to take a teacher's salary? Congratulations. Yes, I continue to make the career choice I made and I try not to whine about the high taxes in Maplewood because this is another choice I continue to make. Sure, I'd love to get some of the money I apparently OVERPAID in the past 9 years. But I know that's not going to happen. I would, however, like to STOP OVERPAYING NOW, thank you very much. My paycheck comes out of my own taxes as well. Or did you think otherwise? Where do you think yours comes from? Where do you get the idea that the town will get more money out of this reval? Your imagination?
And what, pray tell, makes me an overeducated elitist? The fact that I went to Montclair State? Or that I spent 10 years paying back both undergraduate and graduate school loans on that pitiful salary?
If my taxes had gone up that much I'd be saying, well, no new car for a couple of years, that's for sure. Or, whoa, we're gonna need a HOME EQUITY loan now, for sure. Or maybe even, gee, we might need to sell this house and look for something less expensive in town. Funny thing is, if I sold my home now, I'd have to move out of Maplewood altogether.
You suggest I would have a different take on all this if my taxes were going up so steeply. But you don't care that I've ALREADY PAID MORE THAN MY SHARE for many years. Talk about budgeting! Is your logic that since I've already paid it's no big deal??!! If you found out that you had already been overcharged about $10,000, what would you be doing right now? That's the kind of money we're talking about.
Elitist is being unwilling to shop at Pathmark or Foodtown because people from Newark or Irvington might shop there. Elitist is sending your kids to private schools while voting to decrease funding for public schools. Elitist is complaining about high taxes while working as an accountant to help corporations hide assets and avoid taxes. Elitist is thinking you're too special to pay your own share - of taxes or whatever.
If you truly think your house was overvalued - there is a remedy. Contact the assessor. Use the process that is already in place and stop whining. Why is this so hard?
Bacata |
Jur050
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 9:35 pm: | |
Tracks, regardless of anyone's analysis, it boils down to this, by continuing to keep agressively trying to obtain funding from Trenton for our schools, the funding stands a better chance of being realized. Our own TC and BOE should have been doing this for years. If they had, we wouldn't be faced with the situation as it is.
By enlisting the help of parents and teachers, and by being pesistant in their efforts it will get done. Geting the BOE to work together in seeking support will only help the community even further. By performing regular and consistent contact with as many of those envolved in the state government as possible we will see results. Then do it all over again! Keep doing it! It is the right thing to do ! Sooner or later Trenton will address the fact Maplewood, and many other districts need help.
I think it only obvious to any resident of our town, that the property taxes are too high and going higher. This is because the school budget funding comes from our property taxes. We need help and Trenton is the best place to get that help. I don't care who caused the problem, but I know Trenton's got my income tax dollars and we need some of that money back here in town to help defray the property taxes.
Thankfully, we have elected leaders who are doing just that! They are going to Trenton to find a way to obtain money for schools! I wish to support them. Be persistant in your efforts TC! By the way, who did you last meet with in Trenton this past week Vic? Can I help, I'll go with you, just let me know. I'll even go to Newark!. Look forward to your response Vic! |
Nohero
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2001 - 9:28 am: | |
Mr. Jur - Excuse me if I detect a tinge of sarcasm in your latest message. You also seem to be continuing some of the practices which cause some folks to complain about "pen name" posters (I like that term much better than "anonymous").
This "going to Trenton" mantra is one example. You know full well that you were of the opinion during the last election that our government officials should just hang around in Trenton trying to get some "stunt funding" from some unamed state coffer. The truth is, the governor who you supported (I assume, given your political statements in the past) was elected on the promise to reduce the one source of funding available for long-term reform in how education is funded in this state. Begging for scraps from the table in Trenton is no substitute for electing a new team on the state level this November, who will seriously confront the school funding issue.
Your last question to Mr. DeLuca does not strike this reader as a legitimate request for information. The purpose and subject of the meeting was discussed on this board, as I am sure you are well aware. It must be that, now that you know that there are some new readers of this board, you can recycle some of your old material.
This also has to be the second time I've seen you say "I'll even go to Newark". What in the world does that mean? By the way, Jur, there are some of us who work there every day, making the charm of your statement even less evident to us.
As I have mentioned before, I am part of the "great middle" which seems to be coming out about the same on taxes after the revaluation, so I've basically kept my head down on this one. What is disturbing, however, is how some people who know better are using the current concerns (and the legitimate needs of people for information) to just create more discord and confusion. |
Tom
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2001 - 11:39 am: | |
Jur, your problem with "shifting the blame" seems to be, you want the blame to stay right where it is -- with local Democrats instead of state Republicans.
Going to Trenton and standing on a streetcorner with your hat out isn't going to rectify the situation. Bacata and Nohero are correct, that we're in this situation because of state policy, and begging for exceptions shouldn't have to be a full-time job for our TC members.
Get a team in Trenton, in the governor's mansion as well as the legislature, who's committed to putting money into the local schools. Unforunately, they might not be of your particular partisan persuasion. But it's not going to change otherwise. |
Tracks
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2001 - 12:38 pm: | |
The BOE has gone repeatedly to Trenton. We have local representatives that are supposed to be our voices in Trenton (assemblyperson, state senator). They are supposed to be the ones who fight for our causes. Whitman has stopped every effort for property tax reform. The soon to be new acting gov - DeFrancesco has been outspoken on property tax releif, so I hope he gives it more than lip service.
By the way, I am not "shifting the blame", I am merely placing the blame where it belongs. |
Jur050
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2001 - 12:53 pm: | |
I respectfully disagree! How do you change State policy? By building your case and methodically presenting it to those with the power to effect change. You do this regardless of who happens to be in power. I think it is wise to agressively seek state funding for our schools.
My point is that this can and should be done. The time is ripe for addressing the school funding and property tax situation. Look at what is happening presently. Even the Presidential campaign this time suggested that more federal money be spent on our schools.
Waiting on a street corner with your hand out, is akin to waiting for the phone to ring. We should be actively petitioning as many sources as possible to insure that Maplewood's needs are known and inturn met. I'm not shifting any blame, I'm stating my opinion of what should be done and offering to help it get done. |
Davel
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2001 - 1:16 pm: | |
If we could harness all the energy that this reeval has created and direct it towards Trenton maybe would could get some real property tax relief (and school funding reform). If only we had some leadership to help direct us... |
Damellon
| | Posted on Friday, February 2, 2001 - 2:04 pm: | |
Let's all face it, the reason why we are in this mess is that the "TC" did a sloppy job with the reval. Apparently, it was nobody's job to oversee the process. This is unacceptable representation. How the members of the TC can go around all puffed up and full of themselves the way that they do is beyond me. I want them - out of my house, out of the pool, out of the library, out of the school district (especially!!!) - and out of town hall!!! I urge everyone to please consider taking a closer look at the other candidates that may represent us more appropriately during the next election! We need representative that are not overcommitted (and not spending extreme amounts of time posting on this board!!) - to be accountable and to do the job properly |
Tracks
| | Posted on Friday, February 2, 2001 - 4:58 pm: | |
I am glad to see that Damellon has mastered the art of "copy and paste" on his/her computer. Next... let's hope he learns how to use the delete key. |
Kestrel
| | Posted on Saturday, February 3, 2001 - 10:17 am: | |
Damellon...Would you mind repeating that? I didn't quite get your message... |
Eb1154
| | Posted on Saturday, February 3, 2001 - 2:26 pm: | |
Kestrel,
Don't be embarrassed, I didn't get it the first 10 times I read it. |
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