Voters tonight turned down a $52 million schools budget that included a seven-point tax increase. Had the budget passed, it would have meant a $100 increase for the average homeowner whose house is assessed at $122,000.
The budget will now go to the Borough Council, which by law can cut as little or as much as it deems necessary.
Most polling places reported high turnout, with returns showing that about 25% of eligible voters went to the polls. The final tally showed 1,398 people voting yes and 2,096 voting no.
In addition to the budget, three Board of Education seats were also on the ballot, with three residents seeking those spots. Next week the Board will swear in incumbent Debbie Boyle to a second term, as well as newcomers Christopher Hubner and Gary Stevenson. Boyle was the top vote getter, with 2,131 votes, followed by Hubner with 1,930 and Stevenson with 1,901.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
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I sure hope the council LISTENS TO THE VOTERS and does not approve this budget or any other one for that matter....They can find a way to make it work.
ReplyDeleteThat's true...I say the town council cuts another $5 million and then the responsibility of educating a child in South Plainfield will HAVE to fall back to the parents. Who needs teachers??
ReplyDeleteI agree. The free ride for parents is over. Eliminate latch-key, all after school activities and make class sizes 30-35 children. If one professional can take care of that many kids, then one or two parents can obviously raise their children without any help from some stupid, uneducated government employee who only got the job cause they know someone. If only teachers had to pass tests and take time off from the working force and earn some sort of a college degree. Hopefully Christie will fix that too!
ReplyDeleteThe money is not there. People are tired of paying more and more and more. The only thing the public is saying is that, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, school employees need to keep their salaries flat for a year and pay a little for their benefits. When people are losing their jobs, I don't think that is a huge sacrifice. A little compromise and there will be few, if any teacher cuts or program cuts.
ReplyDeleteYour union is hurting your profession by making you look unreasonable. And I like you, I really like you.
This town should be ashamed of themselves. For all of you people who voted no, I hope you will be happy when your child does not get the education he or she deserves! It is a shame when people listen to a governor who knows absolutely nothing about education or what it takes to run a school district!
ReplyDeleteI did not vote no because Gov. Christie told me to...I voted NO because my family is struggling as are many other families. I was laid off 8 months ago and still can't find a job. I voted NO because the Administrators and teachers did not want to agree to a wage freeze and they are still complaining they don't want to pay into their benefits. I can't afford their huge salaries for 10 months of work. I cant afford paying their benefits which cover their spouses and children....they need to kick in more.
ReplyDeleteTimes are tough right now and if they can't give up a little to keep their jobs...then that is on them.
It has nothing to do with the children. Many teachers get it, but their union does not. That's why almost two-thirds of the voters said they would not support raises and benefits that are totally out of line with today's reality. Plus, we're tired of you telling us all the time that you are going to hurt our children when we simply want you to take the same type of pay freezes and make the same benefit contributions we make. Some of you would rather hurt the children apparently though. So please don't say you care about our kids. You don't. You care about yourselves.
ReplyDeleteRemember this: Schools are cheaper than prisons. If kids don't have things to do, such as after school activities, they will find something to do. And you might find these kids breaking into your house just for something to do. Pay now or pay more later.
ReplyDeleteThe previous comment is so ridiculous that I am rolling on the floor laughing...
ReplyDeleteIf you think your taxes will stay level or go down because of voting down the local budget you're mistaken. Newark, an abbott school district receives approximately 815 million a year in state aid. Definition of state aid - you and me. And thats just one abbott district, so we will always continue to have our property taxes raised.
ReplyDelete