SCHOOOL BUDGET 3.26 CENT TAX RATE INCREASE

[Guest]

3.26 CENT TAX RATE INCREASE

•Proposed Tax Rate General Fund
88.84 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation
$5,485.25 per year to the average taxpayer (assessed at $617,439)

•Proposed Tax Rate Debt Service Fund
5.38 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation
$331.90 per year to the average taxpayer (assessed at $617,439)

•Proposed Overall Tax Rate
94.21 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation
$5,817.15 per year to the average taxpayer (assessed at $617,439)


Tax Impact of Proposed Budget

Assessed-----2010-11
Value----------Tax Increase

$ 300,000----------$ 97.87

$ 500,000----------$ 163.12

$ 617,254----------$ 201.50

$ 700,000----------$ 228.37

$ 900,000----------$ 293.62

http://portal.cranburyschool.org/boe/Budget%20Info/2010_11_PowerPoint.pdf

http://portal.cranburyschool.org/boe/Budget%20Info/2010_Budget.htm

[Guest 2]

Time to step up folks. This budget must pass. The BOE has made a lot of very hard cuts. We have lost 5% of our total budget from last year -- and our tax base -- the amount of "pockets" we pay that bill out of has gotten smaller. So even with the dramatic cut to spending (there are other threads that document those cuts - along with a give back from the teachers) -- it does mean there is still a tax increase.

Understand the facts. Know that any further decrease in spending will have a negative effect on kids. Support the budget.

Note: The budget as written already cuts staff, sports, buses, special classes, additional reading help, math help, homework club. It includes give backs from teachers . These are al REAL cuts to programs that HELP students achieve. Now we have to pay for the rest. Pass the budget!

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Do you check your kids home work or simply see them working and say fine?

Do you peer review work at your job or assume because someone is paid that the work will always be 100% fine and no need for critique?

Why not ask for a peer review of the school budget?

You can appreciate hard work and effort, but still ask for a peer review.

[Guest]

The point of the previous poster was to "vote no to send a message", not to "vote no to bring about an additional peer review".

Plus, there are already a whole lot of peer reviewers here in Cranbury (residents, taxpayers and voters). If the budget has been vetted, before its voted on, then you don't need to reject it for the sake of another peer review.

[Guest 2]

A vote No is not merely a "ghee, we'd like another set of eyes to review this". It says, "No" we don't think the budget as presented is acceptable, please change it.

We elect BOE members and ask them to learn about and understand our school system and ask them to make good choices in funding. The members of the TC have no expertise with the school budget -- no more than you or I. Do you ask your lawyer to double check your surgeon's work? No!

As a voter it is your RESPONSIBILITY to examine the budget and make a decision, yes or no. There is no third choice - which you seem to imply -- that says -- let the TC make the decision for me because somehow they magically should know more about the school budget than any voter does.

And by the way -- I do not check my children's homework -- that's what they have teachers for!

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Whenever I see someone say, " don't read this it's standard, just sign." When I hear, it's "already been reviewed by your employee so it's ready to go out. Save time." When I get prostests about looking at something, then I start to wonder what it is I am missing.

It seems there are so many people opposed to a review of the budget and ardently so, that there are people adamant that I just vote yes, that I am now wondering what it is I am missing. So my vote will be No because I distrust those people who never want a peer review or second look. It is possible the TC validates the number and says that's it we can't do any better. However, the fact that people are so diametrically opposed to a no vote leads me to believe there is something the TC may find leading to some larger savings.

By the way to the poster who says he does not check his child's homework and it is the teacher's responsability. That is great parenting. What happened to taking an active role in teaching your child. That's the problem the inner cities have with lack of parental role in education.

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I would like to see administration's pay freeze.

Some of the teachers are hurting because they will work less hours and they will get paid less. I don't think our teachers are overpaid. We have very cool teachers. They do a lot for our kids. Let them have their 2% increase.

As for the tax hike. Well, I feel like an idiot, because I did not complain about my tax assessment since the reassessment. But if taxes go up, then I will go to the tax assessor and ask him to reduce my property tax, which he has done for a lot of people in town. Btw, you can see your neighbor's taxes on cyberhomes.com

[Guest 2]

I don't get the "peer review" concept.

The TC has not relationship to the BOE. Why do you imply they are "peers" -- again -- it's like having a lawyer review your surgeon's work.

They are both well respected, and smart -- but one's expertise has nothing to do with the other.

The budget has been formulated by the Superintendent -- "reviewed" questioned and poked at by the BOE -- sent to the state Department of Education (DOE) for review and now it is being presented to the voters for a yes or no vote.

Either you think it needs change -- then vote no -- or you think it is ok --- vote yes. The TC has NOTHING to do with it. If we vote no the TC has to look at it and ask for cuts -- because that is what the majority of NO votes means -- it means CUT -- it does not mean REVIEW.

So if you want a cut -- vote NO -- if you think sufficient -- and dare I say too much -- has already been cut -- vote YES.

Get over this "REVIEW" option -- it does not exist!

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