School Budget Presentation on 4/14/2009 (Tue)

[Guest]

Our elected officials manage Cranbury without a clue as to what the taxpayers really want



And how do they discover this when no one shows up at the meetings. According to Win only two people showed up at the budget presentation. Four years ago when the contract negotiations went to mediation, three of us showed up to ask the board to try to keep a lid on salaries. At that meeting there were more than thirty people urging the board to cave in to the union. If you want elected officials to have a "clue" about what you want you have to show up and tell them. Braying anonymously on a bulletin board just doesn't get it done.

[Stop your bitching]

I don't get it. Didn't most of us who have moved to this town in the last 10 or 15 years move here so that we could send our children to this school system? I know I did. I also have a feeling that when I go to sell my house in a few years my property value will largelly depend on the quality of the school.
There are some wonderful quality teachers in this school. For the most part, even in this economy, they make an awful lot less than the parents of the children that they are educating. I don't recall teachers asking for or getting anything more than a 3 or 4 percent raise even 4 or 5 years ago when the economy was booming. I don't recall any public outcry.
I think an awful lot of people in this town have an inflated sense of entitlement. They want their children to have the best education and they think it should provided to them at no cost. Sorry it does not work that way.

[Guest]

[Guest]

I don't think anyone here is arguing we have one of the best school systems in the state, as well as some of the best teachers. However, I think we can "tighten the belts" a little this year and perhaps cut back on things that are wants, not needs.

[Guest]

I work as a Senior compensation consultant for Wm. Mercer one of the largest HR consulting firms in the world. I can assure you even during the boom times merit pay increases never hit 4%. The school systems because they are collective contracts and because they base their decisions on surrounding towns negotiate these increases exclusive of what the economoy is really doing. It stands because people want what's best for their kids, but we cannot negotiate one year deals with the union and the unions will not accept deals where people may not receive an increase if work merits it.

That is on salary...

In terms of the budget, like all budgets people put in for all kinds of requests. Unfortunately, school budgets tend to inflate because no one wants to cut children services and say we want the best. That's great, but at what cost? I believe we need to be realistic and a public education can be had at a solid level if we trim the fact. Accepting the budget and saying I want a good school is really a cop out for not looking at how one spends the money.

[Guest2]

Only 2 people showed up at the meeting because MOST people approve of the how the Board of Education handles the schools and budget. When people are UNHAPPY they show up. When people are HAPPY they stay home because the know all is well.

Get it -- most of town is HAPPY

[Guest]

[Guest2]

So you think the budget should not have risen. You say your interested, so then how do you suggest the budget should have been cut?

When you look at the budget, note the following:

The increases are all in amounts that are non-discretionary. (Benefits, salaries are part of contract, tuition is fixed, busing is bid out and we get the best deal possible, even eliminated a route to minimize the increase, but it is what it is.)

All discretionary spending was decreased. (Significant decreases in supplies and textbooks - 14%)

The budget itself only went up 1.64% over last year -- but the valuation of ratables went down -- meaning we all have to bear a larger portion of the cost.

Those are the facts. The only way to cut the budget significantly is to do what???? Lay off a significant number of teachers????? That is not a solution that the voters will support.

So stop complaining and do the math. The board is doing a great job.

[Guest]

My tax bill will increase approximately twenty dollars a month,a sum well worth the wonderful school we have. If I ever decide to sell my house I know the families who look at it will do so because they want their children to attend Cranbury School.
I totally support the budget,the school board and the fine staff of our school My grown children have attended Cranbury School and now it is time for me to ensure that my young neighbors and their children are afforded the same fine educational opportunity. Isn't that what being part of a community is all about?
I am a grateful senior citizen with the wisdom to understand that if I want to live in a community with excellent services (school,police,fire,first aid,public works,recreation,parks,etc) I should expect to pay for it.

[Guest]

Last year the budget had 300,000 budgeted for a roof repair since completed. Had the roof not needed repair the 300,000 in last year's budget would not have been there so you should not include that money when looking at this year's increase. The problem is that this increase not only assumes the 300,000 from last year remains as an available fund, but we pay more on top.

I have a child and definitely want a good school. However, I also want sound management. As far as I am concerened the budget should simply be what we are obligated to pay this year. By the way, with sports being such a large part, what about looking at removing one? When I went to Cranbury we had two sports each season one for boys and one for girls.

[Guest]

There is a roof project this year as well.

[Guest]

Right and their asking for even more money. The 300,000 was simpy integrated into this year's budget.

There is no way anyone can tell me that the school is exempt from a budget review when every other entity is scaling back. The school is getting rent now from the library, but we're not seeing that relief it's being consumed.

[Guest2]

I really wish you would read and understand the budget before you comment on it.

The roof is being done in stages -- last year's part cost $300,000. This year's part will, again, be approximately $300,000. We are using money from the surplus account to pay for it.

No trickery here -- they are simply doing an expensive repair in stages, over several years to spread out the cost without having to bond for it (very responsible, pay out of cash, don't borrow if we don't need to.) We are using the surplus to pay for this year's part (the surplus is our "savings" account -- see what a smart town we are -- we actually have savings we can use on a "rainy" day) so that we can minimize YOUR tax increase in a clearly tough year -- but one in which we still need to fix the roof.

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