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Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1677
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 4:05 pm: | 
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The News-Record reported today that the BOT introduced a budget with a 13.5% increase in municipal taxes. OK, it's already been discussed that they hope to lower the increase to 10%. Aren't you thrilled?
The News-Record says "Part of the bind officials find themselves in is, in part, due to the slow pace of development.
In their plans, village officials envisioned having the New Market and Beifus projects on the tax rolls when he time came to begin paying off debt on past bond ordiances."
Hey folks, we have $950,000 in increased debt service this year. That's a 5% increase right there.
You think this didn't occur to them when they increased the school budget? Especially when people are concerned that the PILOTs will take away from school funding. If our BOT has to give us a 10% increase in municipal taxes, you better believe they weren't going to not increase the school budget.
Thanks Diamond Bill. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 9150
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 4:06 pm: |
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Sounds like a good time to apologize to the Smith estate and stop the insane purchase order. |
Matt Foley
Citizen
Username: Mattfoley
Post Number: 627
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 4:09 pm: |
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A total screw job. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3831
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 4:12 pm: |
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Quote:Thanks Diamond Bill.
I prefer "Conflict Calabrese" |
Matt Foley
Citizen
Username: Mattfoley
Post Number: 628
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 4:18 pm: |
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Do the Hustle... doot do do di do do do do doo |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1679
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 4:57 pm: |
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This horror show brought to you in part by Allan Rosen, chair of the Finance Committee. Yes folks, the same Allan Rosen who told you Tau was being paid for with a grant and wasn't going to cost the taxpayers anything. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 833
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 6:01 pm: |
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But they didn't know, because only Mr. Gross knows what goes on with the monopoly money they play with! The buck stops with a guy we can't vote out of office, how convenient! 
(and, lest we forget, some people are going to be even further up a creek after the revaluation!) |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 660
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 10:31 pm: |
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Has anyone discussed the impact of Corzine's proposed budget and how it will directly affect South Orange? I'm also aware that the federal government is cutting community development block grants. We're in for a very rough year... fiscal responsibility has to be the biggest priority to this community but... we shall see.... |
e roberts
Citizen
Username: Wnwd00
Post Number: 375
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 12:35 am: |
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you mean the taxpayers,specifically property owners in south orange right? since they do pay the vast majority of taxes in town? |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 661
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 12:59 am: |
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Well actually no... the proposed cuts affect every person in South Orange ranging from the children in the school system, the independent aid act has been cut 50% which affects SHU, the various organizations who seek state grants in order to continue their work and yes, of course, taxpayers are apart of the equation as well. Does that clear it up for you? FYI - property owners are not the only "taxpayers" but trust that I fully understand what you were alluding to with your post. Your sentiments are noted. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3845
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 1:48 pm: |
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Quote:In their plans, village officials envisioned having the New Market and Beifus projects on the tax rolls when he time came to begin paying off debt on past bond ordinances
A 13.5% increase this year????
Aren't we going to continue to have this problem for several years, since Beifus & New Market were "expected" to be completed a couple years ago now won't be completed until 2008 (at the earliest)?
To put this in simple terms - This is like buying a very expensive car on the HOPES of receiving a big bonus and then being told you won't receive the bonus this year or the next 2 years. Most rational people would sell the car and stop further discretionary spending to reduce the debt burden. South Orange politicians would buy A SECOND very expensive car and go deeper into a hole. They would then give the car dealer TENURE.  |
Wilnut C. Mullah
Citizen
Username: Parkingsux
Post Number: 383
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 2:38 pm: |
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The scariest thought in my mind is when (and I think it will be announced shortly) the federal government takes CBDG money off the table. They have come to recognize that in many areas around the country it is the politicians' slush fund with very little oversight. If this funding source for SOPAC should disappear - what plans do they have to offset this catastrophic loss? It is in this context that reasonable people would say that they have simply played loose with the village's future and demonstrated a lack of control in setting financial priorities - culminating with the TAU funding fiasco!
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Agrackle
Citizen
Username: Agrackle
Post Number: 35
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 2:55 pm: |
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Someone made a good analogy the other day about the whole BOT situation. He said "it's akin to the BOT using the equity in our homes for their own pet projects".
Isn't that effectively what higher property taxes do? They both raise one's monthly mortgage payment and have a negative impact on property values. And since we all know that a significant portion of the budget imbalance is due to slow development (ie, reduced revenue from non tax paying properties like Beifus and Sayid) and other fiscal irresponsibility, isn't the BOT primarily responsible? Think they'll ever admit to that?
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MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3847
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 3:12 pm: |
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Wilnut,
Along those lines, I just re-read meeting minutes from February 22, 1999 reagrding a presentation on SOPAC:
http://www.southorange.org/minutes/1999/02221999r.htm
Quote:Village President Calabrese commented that the Village is trying to make this particular project self-sufficient and accommodate the public by renting out the multi-purpose room which in turn will help pay for the facilities in the building. He stated that an additional $20,000 is being paid to have an extra removable wall installed which will split the multi-purpose room in half.
Quote:With regard to the financing aspect, President Calabrese stated that the costs would be broken down in two parts in order to make this project financially sound. The total capital cost for the live stage, multi-purpose room, restaurant, etc. will run the Village about $6 million. The second part, the commercial side; i.e., the movie theaters will run the Village approximately $2.4 million. He stated that the money for the live stage would probably come from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. The hope is to get the entire $6 million from the County.
What is CURRENT estimate of the Capital Cost for the project?
This is just like TAU...it starts out as a small investment and before long, you are talking about serious dollars.
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susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1487
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 6:31 pm: |
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Agrackle...
Wonderful analogy. If the forces of recall decide to move forward, it should be part of the discussion! |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 545
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 7:19 pm: |
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We are also doing the same thing with the Old Stone House. The CBAC recommended that the BOT provide the list of items below before investing significant funds.
The BOT's never responded to these recommendations and have Bonded $260,000 plus $108,000 of Open Space Trust Funds to the "Stabilization" phase. THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE A USABLE FACILITY! It will take millions to make it a functional building.
The CBAC Stated:
Therefore, before proceeding with the stabilization project, a discussion of Village-wide priorities and assignment of funding sources should be initiated. A decision then can be made based on these criteria, which should include greater project and financial detail for multiple proposed uses for the Old Stone House.
Some specific items that need to be addressed include the following:
1. Defining Police Department use requirements;
2. Defining Historical Society projected use of the facility;
3. Defining the scope of the proposed stabilization
4. Projected other sources of funds to include but not be limited to Grants (naming specifically which and how much; and Fundraising (projected amount over what period and who will implement;
5. Projected costs of both PD alternatives as it relates to No. 1 above requirement; and
6. Projected cost of current maintenance required at the PD that would be included in the second story addition alternative. |
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