| Author | Message | ||
     John |
Does anyone know how I can get a copy of the school budget? Is there any way to get it published on this Board? I've seen discussions on what items are to be cut and what is best for our children. I'd like to take a look at the budget before I comment on how many kids are being helped by what programs. I think it is easy to argue that any program will benefit someone. It can also be justified to pay the salaries we do to our teachers and administrators. I have a suspicion that if you look at the amount of money spent on a football or lacrosse program - and the number of students it benefits - as compared to the amount spent on 4th and 5th grade musical instrument instruction, the difference in savings per child would be huge. I'm not saying that one thing is more important than the other, I'm saying OUR TAXES ARE TOO HIGH. We have to determine where we can save money. The argument that we are born with an innate ability is correct. We have an innate ability to exercise and we have an innate ability to think, THAT IS WHAT MAKES US HUMAN! However, apparently we do not have an innate ability to figure out budgets. In this regard our Government and Administrators are failing us. I'm not saying lets scrap the Football or Lacrosse Programs but, lets be realistic, see what we are paying out and, where it is going. We compare our test results but we pay for other programs without question. We want the best teachers but are unwilling to pay for them. Our teachers want the best salaries but some are unwilling to give up tenure. Our administrators just think they can make the best decisions and seem to ignore our concerns. And our government officials spend 2/3rds of their time running for office. As long as we are willing to pay the tax base and argue about fair share, our taxes will keep going up. So since most of my taxes go to fund the school system (a school system my children are currently in) I'd like to see the budget and see if I can start an educated discussion on what we get for each dollar spent. Any help out there? | ||
| Nohero |
As usual, answers to all of life's questions can be found on the web.  I don't think the school district's budget is online. However, the state puts out a comparative spending guide, which is at this link. From there you can search the "Vital Statistics" section for a summary of overall spending and sources of revenue. Among the things which can be learned from the state statistics is that the district spent about $8440 per pupil in the last school year, which is in line with spending around the state for K-12 districts (but actually a little less than our neighbors West Orange and Millburn). The district is below the state average for spending on extra-curricular activities. Another significant number is that the district received 9% of its funding from the state - the same as West Orange, a little more than Millburn (6%) and Westfield (7%), but less than Montclair (13%) and Union Township (25%). An unfortunate fact of life in this community is that the tax situation is caused more by the fact that such a high percentage of the property tax is paid by residential properties. If the budget is looked at on a "per pupil" spending basis, it is not way out of line. However, when that budget is turned into a property tax rate, the tax rate becomes outrageous because of the high burden on residential properties. If I may be allowed to repeat myself, between funding sources and spending, our bigger problem is the over-reliance on property taxes to fund education in this state. | ||
| Octofoil |
Nohero, I'm a real rookie on taxation in NJ but, mainly as a result of the rude awakening brought on by the reval, I'm trying to catch up. You've mentioned a couple of times that the problem is over-reliance on property taxes to fund education. Would you share your thoughts on possible remedies/changes that you would view as possible/desirable/feasible? It would be helpful if others would do likewise... Thanks to all that respond! | ||
| John |
Thanks Nohero, I followed your link to the N.J. Dept of Education site. There is a lot to look at and I'm sure I'll be very confused. But, I'll check it out. One thing I noticed, if I am reading it correctly, is that 12% of the per pupil cost for the '99-'00 school year went to Total Administration costs(?). Again thanks, this is a good starting point. | ||
| Nohero |
John - You're right, the percentage for administration does seem high. Although, the state definition of "Administration" costs covers a lot of ground, including what appear to be staff development costs. Nevertheless, if any number was going to be higher than the average, I'd probably prefer to see "classroom expenses" or "extracurriculars" be in that category, over "administration" costs. Octofoil - I do not know the perfect solution. I do know that NJ has been moving backwards. Governor Whitman was elected on a promise to reduce the one form of taxation which was intended to reduce the property tax burden. She did, and today what passes for property tax "relief" barely covers the yearly increases in taxes. [For example, as noted in the Star-Ledger article entitled Rebates fail to offset rise in N.J. taxes.] Maybe we could consider something similar to the Michigan system, which I understand involves some "Per student" funding by the state, along with other tax restructuring. Now, maybe that particular plan has other aspects which NJ may not want, but the fact remains that this state needs to do something. [By the way, thanks for the explanation of your screen name, on the other thread. Cool "handle".] | ||
| Ffof |
Thanks for the Star Ledger article, Nohero. Who needs a mall when clearly a nuclear power plant is the way to go!! | ||
| Mtierney |
Heard a discussion on the radio yesterday. Seems things are tough in Alabama which funds its schools by a sales tax. Folks there would not cotton to (sorry) any kind of property tax based funding. A $100,000 house pays $375 in taxes there. But, because spending is down, sales tax revenues are also down. The district there plans to open on Oct. 1, cancel all sports, as cost cuts. | ||
| Octofoil |
Nohero, There is the old saying "war is too important to be left to the Generals" (Winston Churchill??? Julius Ceaser???), meaning of course that, at bottom, war is a political process. I'm beginning to think that perhaps that saying should be turned around when applied to taxes and rephrased as "taxes are too important to be left to the politicians". But of course, those are the folks that we elect to administer our system, so that doesn't work either. I guess I'm down on politicians in general right now because of (1) the lack of foresight and planning on the part of our TC in the handling of the reval, (2) the seeming ducking of responsibility and accountability in Trention (i.e., the proposed constitutional convention format is designed to give the policitians some "cover" for anything that is unpopular, and (3) the never-ending "money is power and power is money" tug-of-war in Washingtion. It starts at the local level and goes all the way up. Maybe if I take a couple of aspirin and lie down this will all go away???? No? I didn't really think so. So, I guess the lesson from the reval wake up call is for all of us to become more involved and aware of events and trends and especially the capabilities and inclinations of people in policy-making positions at all levels. No more thinking that whatever they do doesn't really matter, it won't affect me. I thought I learned that in Vietnam. I guess I forgot. | ||
| Spw784 |
Can someone let us know what is covered in the "administration" grouping? I recall hearing somewhere that anyone not in charge of a class was considered administration. So this would include, nurses, librarians, special services staff members, support staff, etc. |
