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It's no one's fault but our own. We elect the politicians, we vote to approve spending increases for everything, and we demand the best and highest quality (or we assume that if it is more expensive, it is better). It seems necessary at the time (more money for schools! better roads! healthcare for the poor! open space! parks! sidewalks!) but all these wonderful services and programs cost money. I work with low income senior citizens...occasionally I'll have one move out of state, and no matter what state they go to (usually Virginia, North Carolina, California or Florida to be with family), they call me a few months later in tears because they can't afford to pay for the health services they received here in NJ for free.
I'm not defending the higher taxes - I personally would prefer less services and more money in my pocket.
It's no one's fault but our own. We elect the politicians, we vote to approve spending increases for everything, and we demand the best and highest quality (or we assume that if it is more expensive, it is better). It seems necessary at the time (more money for schools! better roads! healthcare for the poor! open space! parks! sidewalks!) but all these wonderful services and programs cost money. I work with low income senior citizens...occasionally I'll have one move out of state, and no matter what state they go to (usually Virginia, North Carolina, California or Florida to be with family), they call me a few months later in tears because they can't afford to pay for the health services they received here in NJ for free.
I'm not defending the higher taxes - I personally would prefer less services and more money in my pocket.
HI Christina,
It is a shame about the Senior issue. At least in GA they can live just about tax free and the legislature has a bill to make all over 70 folks totally tax free on income.
The issue in Jersey is not the senior services but the teachers unions. Many older folks have to move out of state since they cannot afford the property taxs, income taxes, and threshold auto insurance. I left in 2002 and at that time my property taxes were 8,000 a year. Just had a standard cookie cutter home. One just has to love the "all the sudden" ref elections on Wednesday, between 2:30 and 5pm to increase your tax by 500+ per year for a school which never gets built and a teacher that does not get a raise, however, the local NEA thugs line their pockets and add a few more $200,000 per year administrators to their fold. In my county, they actually need 10 supers at $225K per year with 3 admin's each at $105K per year.???
And then you hit the nail. blame the general pop. There has been ample opportunity in Jersey but all they want to do is elect the Florio's, McGreevey's and now Corzine You have to love that guy. A multi-billion dollar net worth socialist who has his, but you are not getting yours. In other words the typical matra. Re-distribution of wealth, less the politician of course.
I miss South Jersey, but can't come back until some re-structure is done, which I think it's to late.
Part of the reason for this high cost of education in New Jersey is its fragmented school system. New Jersey has 617 school districts, which is more than all but six other states. These districts spend more on bureaucracy than any other state in the nation. Of these school districts nearly two-thirds are classified as "small" districts, 64 have fewer than 400 students, 24 do not operate schools, but still support a board of education, and 172 are "double districts" that have a K-8 district and a separate high school district.
This fragmented school system leads to corruption, inefficiency and political power play at the local levels.
I was talking to my tax assessor and asked him why my taxes when up 100% in the past couple of years. The answer was - school.
Well, then if that the case – my school’s footprint should have been expended 100%, the number of students and the teachers should be two times bigger then couple of years ago, or the number of teachers should be the same but their salaries should be doubled. I don’t see any of the above (beside the tax increase).
So, where my money go to? Anyone?
I was talking to my tax assessor and asked him why my taxes when up 100% in the past couple of years. The answer was - school.
Well, then if that the case – my school’s footprint should have been expended 100%, the number of students and the teachers should be two times bigger then couple of years ago, or the number of teachers should be the same but their salaries should be doubled. I don’t see any of the above (beside the tax increase). So, where my money go to? Anyone?
See my second paragraph above. This is where the money goes...
Last edited by Marka; 09-19-2006 at 05:34 AM..
Reason: repaired code
Senator Adler doubletalk...
"By John H. Adler
As a suburban taxpayer, I'm tired of seeing millions of dollars spent annually to feed the culture of corruption in the Camden School District."
"As a state senator, I get asked a lot why New Jersey wastes tax money on urban districts such as Camden's, where spending scandals keep breaking.
That's a legitimate question."
"The departed school superintendent unilaterally gave herself a $17,000 salary bonus.
The superintendent's secretary amassed $100,000 in overtime by including days when she was sick, on vacation or when schools were closed.
The rigging of test scores was blamed by the state on "adult interference." This conclusion came only after The Inquirer exposed a system where fourth-grade math scores dropped from a statewide high of 100 percent proficiency to just 23 percent when state agents monitored the tests.
State probes are under way concerning the use of taxpayer funds to purchase a big-screen television and iPods for personal use of school administrators.
Teachers and other school employees are being probed for filing $28,000 in pay vouchers for meetings that never took place."
"Throw good money after bad -- that appears to be the Democrat’s motto concerning the funding of education in this state."
""I won’t support drastic cuts in spending for the poorest districts, but limits should be considered for our wealthiest districts," state Sen. John Adler, D-Cherry Hill, pontificated in a press release yesterday. Oh, and by the way, Sen. Adler is another Norcross puppet we all need to watch."
"Of course, Adler won’t support forcing the poorer districts to be accountable, but he wants in on the wealthiest districts accounts receivables."
"This Robin Hood routine is just not going to wash no matter how Adler or any other "education advocate" tries to color it."
Caught a bit of Oprah's show yesterday with the creep McGreevey on...what
a weasel he is....Oprah asked him the question that I would have asked...If
you knew you were gay why did you marry two women? Uh, duh, uh duh, he
fumbled and never really answered the question...what a guy....Menendez,
Corzine..they are all the same....If the reason for the high taxes is the schools then why are our kids soooooo dumb.....they graduate high school
and can't fill out an employment application, can barely write a paragraph
and forget about spelling....so tell me where is all the money going?
I live in Florida and we are on the way to New Jerseys taxes. We all know voting the politicians out would help and investigating them beforehand. Florida had a turnout of 20 percent this last election and I had to force my daughters to go, they think it will make no difference who gets in. Why aren't more people voting? What is the matter with us, we complain and then vote for the same again and again and again.
I don't know what house prices are in New Jersey or how much wages are, but in Florida wages are staying the same but houses are soaring and so is everything else.
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Governor Corzine Taxes
10 supers at $225K per year with 3 admin's each at $105K per year.???
You have to love that guy. A multi-billion dollar net worth socialist who has his, but you are not getting yours. In other words the typical matra. Re-distribution of wealth, less the politician of course.
