| Author | Message | ||
     Dr. Winston O'Boogie Citizen Username: Casey Post Number: 557 Registered: 8-2003  |
but that doesn't explain a budget increase. we had the same population density last year. | ||
| Sylad Citizen Username: Sylad Post Number: 317 Registered: 6-2002 |
There are presentations on the Board of Ed web site that discuss some of the increases, it also states that a line item comparission will be posted soon. That may help so show where the big increase it. | ||
| jfburch Citizen Username: Jfburch Post Number: 1315 Registered: 6-2001 |
That info is at: http://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/finance/0405budgetlinks.htm | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 121 Registered: 9-2001 |
If you open the link and look at the Budget Summary, it does indeed state on the bottom left-hand side that the estimated tax impact will be 9%. Does that mean 9% of every taxpayer's overall property taxes, or something else? (And that doesn't even include the county or the town portion of our property tax bill, which are also likely to increase right?) | ||
| jfburch Citizen Username: Jfburch Post Number: 1316 Registered: 6-2001 |
That would be the estimated tax impact of the School portion of the overall property tax. If my math is right, 9% on the schools would be about 5% overall. County and municipal will make up the rest and both will also increase. IIR (someone can correct me), county taxes are looking at a 2% or 3% increases. Municipal increases have been in the same range in the past, but the BOSE noted at the last budget workshop that the municipal increase may be higher this year--in part on account of the police station, but also because of the same kinds of rising personnel costs that the schools face. I don't think the overall will be 9% even in the worst case, but it's going to be a rough year. | ||
| overtaxdalready Citizen Username: Overtaxdalready Post Number: 203 Registered: 6-2001 |
It means the portion of your tax bill that's for schools will increase 9%. Your entire tax bill will only increase by that percentage if the county and town portions go up 9% as well. | ||
| overtaxdalready Citizen Username: Overtaxdalready Post Number: 204 Registered: 6-2001 |
JF, I'd just modify the last line of your post by changing the word "a' to "another" right before "rough year". | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 122 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thanks for the explaination jfburch and overtaxdalready. But if the school budget increases raise overall property taxes by 5% and the munipical and county portions raise them by 2 to 3% each, doesn't that mean we are looking at an overall 9 to 10% increase, if not more? | ||
| jfburch Citizen Username: Jfburch Post Number: 1317 Registered: 6-2001 |
Not quite--as overtaxed noted, there would have to be 9% increases across the board for an overall 9% increase. About 60% of property taxes go to the schools. I don't have the municipal and county breakdowns in front of me (anyone else?). For simplicity's sake, say your taxes were $100. $60 is for the schools. If that $60 is subject to a 9% increase, you are looking at $65.40. If the other $40 had a 3% increase, that would bring that portion to $41.20. The new total would be $106.60 for a 6.6% increase. That's not a prediction--we still don't know the municipal increase, or what will happen with the school budget, and one would need to use the correct breakdown for the county and municipal portions (which I have lumped together here for illustration). | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4777 Registered: 5-2001 |
School taxes are around 65% of the tax you pay. Based on a 9.5% increase for school taxes and a 5% average for Town and County this would be a 7.5% overall increase. If the Town and County increase is 4% the increase is 6%. My guess is that the overall tax increase in MW will be right around 6%, assuming SuperH gets everything he wants. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2493 Registered: 9-2001 |
“Isn't there some politician out there with the leadership skills to get us out of this mess?” Tom, There is, but when you combine the two, politician and leadership skill, it creates a form of silly gas that takes over the brain, and inevitably turns things that need to get done into the same old – same old way of being demanding and unreasonable. Then instead of anything getting done, it seems to be all about discussing, debating, and detaining the progress, growth, and improvements we so badly need... | ||
| jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 374 Registered: 7-2001 |
Anyone who runs for the BOE , with the promise of cutting school cost and eliminating illegal students will get 6 votes & $250.00 from Jet. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2495 Registered: 9-2001 |
I'll double that... | ||
| Habanero2 Citizen Username: Habanero2 Post Number: 29 Registered: 12-2003 |
Some comments: -It is sad that the town and its residents don't encourage more businesses whether they be B&Bs, KFCs, bars etc. -The thought that $ per pupil leads to quality schools is false. Involved parents lead to quality schools. -We should secede from Essex. Maybe we can join Millburn on that front. -Finally, most people bidding up the houses aren't buying here for the schools (I know we weren't). They are buying the direct trains and the quaint atmosphere. It is difficult to move closer to the city and feel like it is the suburbs. "You kids today have it easy. When I was a kid everything was HUGE. My dad was nearly four times bigger than me. You couldn't even see the tops of counters.... Then gradually everything became smaller until it was the manageable size it is today." | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 124 Registered: 9-2001 |
Habanero2, You make some good points. One thing though, I do think a lot of people pick Maplewood, in part at least, because of the schools. The schools played a big part in our choice of towns less than three years ago when we moved to Maplewood. A good friend of mine with a small child is currently looking for a house here, partly because she and her husband doesn't want to pay private school tuition for their children in the city. | ||
| jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 375 Registered: 7-2001 |
The cost of our schools has become more detrimental to the value of our housing stock & the ability of older residents to continue to live in MW , then the quality of the education offered. While I understand the statement "We're spending the same per pupil as other towns" we don't have the ratables that other towns have . The BOE must curtail spending & do with less ! | ||
| jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 376 Registered: 7-2001 |
How crazy is it to ask those with children in the school system to pay a small amount of tuition . | ||
| cjc Citizen Username: Cjc Post Number: 1000 Registered: 8-2003 |
Asking those who use something to actually pay for it is heartless, cruel, and no doubt racist today. You should be ashamed of yourself for even asking. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 769 Registered: 7-2003 |
Next thing you’re going to ask is that people SAVE for retirement, when there should be a perfectly good handout for them. | ||
| sac Citizen Username: Sac Post Number: 980 Registered: 5-2001 |
Actually, crazy or otherwise, I believe that it would be unconstitutional. |
