| Author | Message | ||
     Jfw |
i moved to south orange last summer and have yet to completely grasp the odd political arrangement that exists here ... would someone be so kind as to answer a couple of questions for me? 1. my property taxes for 2001 went up nearly 7% over the previous year. why? is this what i can expect every year? (keep in mind, i don't live in maplewood, so i was not affected by the new assessments.) 2. since the lion's share of my property taxes goes to the school system which we share with maplewood, i would like to know more about the mechanism by which the system's budget is drawn up and approved. i understand there is both a "board of school estimate" and a "board of education." how do they interrelate? are both of these groups elected? who exactly do they answer to (the taxpayers or, say, the teachers' unions)? and when is the next election? i'd like to get more involved in this whole process, if only at first by voting, but i need to know where to start. thanks! | ||
| Mtierney |
The board of education is an elected body. We do not vote for the school budget. The budget is reviewed by the board of school estimate after being presented by the BOE. The BOSE is an appointed body, having reps from the village and town governing bodies and the BOE. It has little substantive power to cut or reject a budget however since some 90% of the school budget is fixed expenses. We are the only district in the state with an elected BOE and an appointed BOSE. We are also one of the few communities which does not have a vote on the school budget. | ||
| Mediamaven |
In short, we are getting screwed as the school unions work their magic to increase our taxes and shortchange the quality of education being provided. | ||
| Fringe |
From a thread below: The role of the Maplewood Township Committee and the South Orange Village Trustees in approving the SO-M School District budget has arisen in recent the threads. Herewith are some of the previous comments on the topic: Years ago when South Orange and Maplewood split, the two towns could not agree on how to divide the schools. A consolidated school district became the solution. However, because of the difference in population, South Orange officials, concerned about being out-voted, insisted on a budget-approval mechanism that did away with a direct citizen vote. As a result the NJ legislature passed a law, worded in such a way that it only applied to the SO-M district, stating that the school budget would be voted on by a Board of School Estimate [BOSE]. The BOSE as currently constituted includes: three South Orange Trustees, three Maplewood Committeepersons, and two members of the school board. For a budget to pass at least four of the six town/village members must approve - effectively giving either town a veto. Voters in other NJ districts have elected to use similar systems, but are allowed to return to direct citizen approval by a majority in a local vote. At least one district has chosen to reverse the process. But, because this district's system was established by the state, only the legislature can change it. For many years the system used mattered little, as school districts could appeal rejected budgets to the State Education Superintendent, and as a matter of course, have the original budget reinstated. But in the mid-90's new state law limited appeals, and the rejects were sent to BOSE-like entities at the district level. Local elected officials then make the decision, mindful of the vote of the citizens. In districts with BOSEs, the thinking is that the BOSE would meet a second time to reconsider its first vote. In July 2000, then mayor Ryan, in response to my question on this message board, had this to say about the Township Committee's role: "You know that the school board sets policy for the school system, establishes its budget, and askes for the BSE to approve the tax levy. You know Maplewood is primarily residential. You know that state aid is shrinking. Your questions are questions for the school board, I think, and I suggest that you direct your questions to the school board." My response- "The previous thread began about the impact of the school budget on local taxes and who bears the responsibility for implementing those taxes. I have stated that the school budget of South Orange-Maplewood is paid for by the highest percentage of residential property tax of any district in New Jersey. I believe this translates to the highest education cost for property owners of any town in the state. Roughly [59%] of the local property tax goes to support South Orange-Maplewood schools. ... You have suggested that my concerns are addressed to the wrong elected body, and answers should come from the school board. I disagree. Because of the unique situation created by NJ law, town elected officials sitting as The Board of School Estimate vote on the school budget in place of the residents. Because of the importance of education and the impact on property taxes, one could easily argue that this is the single most important official duty for a Maplewood Township Committeeman or South Orange Village Trustee - and the least understood. ... No, Jerry, I addressed my questions to the right person, and suggest you read the biography on Harry Truman before sending me to Brian O'Leary or Peter Horoschak for answers. You don't expect them to accept blame for the zoning/habitability mess? They only shrug their shoulders and point to the towns or the ambiguous "new students" as an explanation for the District's failures - without providing any hard data to prove the claims made by their mouthpieces on this board." Mr. DeLuca has replaced Mr. Ryan as a Maplewood member of the BOSE effective 1 Jan 2001. Currently, Maplewood pays 57% (approx) & SO 43% (approx) of the school budget even though Maplewood "residents" comprise 66% of enrollment and SO 33% 9approx). One result of the Maplewood revaluation might be to change the amount paid by each town - and not necessarily in the direction one might imagine. Citizens can get involved in the school budget by joining the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC). It's a frustrating experience, but provides insight into the school funding. In Maplewood - call Mary Devon O'brien at 763-4135. In South Orang call Robert Klein at 762-9329. JTL | ||
| Nohero |
Fringe - About one of your statements: I don't know if you are trying to encourage anything as a result of presenting those ratios, but I believe you are forgetting something. The school district is not a "regional" district, where each town is assigned a "share" of the cost, or is only responsible for children from that town. Instead, for purposes of the school district, each every resident is considered a resident of the district, and the district is considered as a single whole with respect to issues such as taxation. In other words, it is treated as if it was still a single municipality. In addition to the high school, attendance zones for middle and elementary schools also cross municipal boundaries, again because the district is considered a single entity. In addition, BOE members run "at large"; there is no provision for regional representation. (JT, I know that you know all of these things. Some of your new "fans" on this message board may not be aware of this, however.) I agree that, with the revaluation in Maplewood, it may be the case that there will be a change in the funding percentages you mention. However, since funding is not supposed to be allocated based on the number of students attending, I don't think the ratios you cite are relevant numbers. | ||
| Tracks |
JFW - The property tax system in NJ pretty much means there will be increases every year. If everything stays the same from one year to the next, there are still salary increases (fire, police, public works, etc.) as well as normal cost of living expenses. As for the schools, right now there has been a population explosion which is one of the driving forces behind the increases in the school budget. That along with decreases in the amount of money that Trentnon passes along each year. The only hope with Trenton is that with Whitman gone, there is some hope for change. | ||
| Fringe |
Several years ago the New Jersey Supreme Court declared NJ's method of funding education (through property taxes) unconstitutional in a suit brought by mostly urban districts. In the long legal battles over remedies that have followed, that court has applied the decision only to the 28 plaintiffs in that case. Earlier this Fall the SO-M school board hired a lobbiest to see what SO-M is entitled to under the decision. Can anyone point to any other specific, documented efforts by the school board or towns to enforce the decision? Why has it taken until now? | ||
| Jfw |
thanks, everyone, for your insight. so does anyone know when the next BOE election is? | ||
| Nohero |
BOE election will be April 17, 2001. If anyone's interested: How to Become a School Board Candidate How 'bout it, Fringe?  | ||
| Aruba18 |
As a lifelong member of Maplewood, I can tell you that the schools are atrocious in comparison to what they used to be. But then, we didn't have our ex-mayor or current mayor to contend with. | ||
| Nohero |
Aruba18 - Since you are a "lifelong member" of Maplewood, you then are aware that the Mayor does not run the schools. There is a separately-elected school board. And, there are a lot of us who don't think the schools are atrocious. | ||
| Jfb |
This school funding scheme has been going on for a while. Maplewood had the opportunity to join in a class action suit several years ago that would allow towns like Maplewood to get more state aid (expand the list of 28 towns). Maplewood declined to get involved to my amazement. And now we hire a lobbiest? Too little too late | ||
| Kathy |
JFB, There are some people in town who have resisted for years any potential moves by the Board of Ed that involved calling our school district "needy", "urban", or similar adjectives that they found degrading, whether we otherwise met the criteria for assistance or not. Just as some persist in comparing us to IJ school districts that we no longer resemble demographically. Aruba, I know someone who graduated from Columbia HS in 1968 who says that when he was there, the word was that CHS was "not what it used to be". And I have read newspaper articles from the early 1920's (yes, you read that right) in which the CHS principal was defending the high school against local critics. Frankly, I have never been able to identify a time when the high school was "as good as it used to be". As a lifelong resident, perhaps you could enlighten me? | ||
| Jfw |
kathy, that's an argument that one could make even after one's school has hit rock bottom. it seems the key is to identify the warning signs of decline and head them off before it's too late. i'm starting to get a clearer picture of what's going on here and it's not very good. the schools are faltering while the cost of running them has some maplewood residents on the brink of packing up and leaving. now, as for the first point, i hope i'm wrong; can anyone offer objective evidence that things are getting better or at least holding the line? as far as the taxes go, it appears the writing is already on the wall. nobody should be paying $14k per year in property taxes on a 3br house. so as far as the april BOE election is concerned, is there any info out there as to who's running and what their positions are? i'd love to hear from any candidates in this space who'd like to share their ideas ... | ||
| Nilmiester |
Good point! Mr. Ryan comes on the board frequently and Mr. DeLuca does also. Never heard from the other three or ANY BOE member. (maybe Gold once). I wonder why? Not computer literate? | ||
| Gerardryan |
Nilmeister! That wasn't a veiled ... compliment, was it???? I'm speechless! (sorry, couldn't resist.... :-) | ||
| Lseltzer |
Nilmeister: Perhaps they are here under pseudonyms. For all I know, you're really Ellen Davenport. | ||
| Kathy |
JFW, I don't think that the conclusion I intended was that the schools have been in a steady decline since the 1920's! My point was rather that times that some people now regard as "the good old days" were not at the time seen as ideal. And analogously, the present may not be as bad as some people see it. I personally think that the schools are excellent, and are doing an amazing job with limited resources. Both my children started in the system in Kindergarten; one graduated from Columbia last June and is now at a highly competitive university, and the other started at Columbia this fall. I would not have them anywhere else. I could afford to send them to private school, or for that matter to move to Millburn, but I prefer this community and its schools. | ||
| Nilmiester |
Mr. Ryan- Yes, that was a compliment. Even if I don't agree with you, you are accessible. Mr Seltzer - I wouldn't want to be Ellen Davenport this year considering the timing of the reval. I have a friend who lives more east than I do (I don't really understand this east vs. west thing.) His taxes are going down though. When he asked the Certified Representative about his taxes during the inspection, the man replied not to worry, that his taxes were going down but that the people on the "hill" were going to get socked. Maybe the people at Certified were not biased and possibly even directed before the work even occurred who would be paying much more! | ||
| Nakaille |
Nil, maybe somebody did a little very basic research before the inspections began as to the selling prices and tax burdens in the various parts of town. Wouldn't have been hard if you had access to the overall view/information, apparently. It would have shown how out of whack the whole setup was pretty quickly. I don't think there was really anything sinister about the inspector's comment. I think the TC must have been very well aware of the inequities and that gave them the courage to push ahead with what was clearly going to be a very unpopular decision: to do a long overdue reval. I think they did it knowing if they didn't, someone was bound to take it to the courts eventually. Just my guess. Bacata |
