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Post by rr on Apr 2, 2014 9:44:12 GMT -5
Since I think most of us are fed up talking about the other stuff and having the same debate for months on end I think it's time for a change up. I went to the last budget meeting and there were some tough questions asked of the Board and the administration about surpluses and our new reserve fund. It's hard to imagine a more thankless job than trying to balance a school budget, inevitably someone or some group will feel they've been shortchanged and/or over taxed. Our school taxes though, are reaching ridiculously high levels and unless we find a way to reverse, or at least slow the increases, it's going to be more difficult for young families to move into the area and help stop the declining enrollment trends. Not to mention the fact that retirees who don't really even reap the benefits of the school system are forced to pay the same school taxes as young families whose incomes is not rising as quickly as our tax bills. Interesting opinion piece in Newsday about school budget surplus. www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial-school-budget-surplus-can-damage-trust-1.7576320
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Apr 2, 2014 14:44:35 GMT -5
The headline from that Newsday Editorial reads: "School budget surplus can damage trust"
For a Board of Education, trust in them either exists in its full measure, or, it does not exist at all. The BAC may have been disbanded, but the public still wants and is entitled to know what happens with their tax money. Just because there is no BAC to facilitate such questions and investigations does NOT mean that people and those questions will just go away. Words to the wise. Chris Wendt
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Apr 7, 2014 12:15:06 GMT -5
I sincerely hope to Board of Ed is making valid and important comparisons for themselves in finalizing this year's budget. Those kinds of questions inquiring voters are going to be asking about, such as, how does this budget stack-up against the 2012-13 Actual Spending? (Dollar-wise and percent-wise). How much money will be held in reserves of all types after the fund balance appropriation is designated? If the tax levy increase is above 2.00%, then how much can various reserves be reduced to increase the fund balance appropriation and get the tax levy increase down 2.00%
While various tricks and magic formulas can make a "Two-Percent Tax Cap" come out to 2.5% or even higher and still be "legal", most taxpayers are not interested in that kind of sleight-of-hand or legerdemain. We really would like to see 2.00% or less on the tax levy increase line.
I think the BoE has a golden opportunity to make things really right with the entire Wantagh community, and I hope they give careful consideration to the financial needs of that 50% of registered voters who are 55 years or older. Another way they should look at this would be to ask themselves if they really want to give any constituency the slightest reason not to be really happy with this year's budget.
Two Percent should equal two percent. Less is better, of course!
Sincerely,
Chris Wendt
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