Letter: 'No Such Thing as a Spending Cap' to Lacey BOE
Former Lacey school board supporter expresses disappointment in district and its potential 2.8 percent increase in the local tax levy
Letter to the Editor
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Dear Editor,
The township of Lacey is really in shambles, and ironically enough, it is not caused by the town council. The recent news surrounding a potential 2.8 percent tax increase issued by the Board of Education should come as no real surprise to the residents.
Lets be realistic, when was the last time the Board of Education has made a decision that the town as a whole is happy with?
Most of these board members supported and pitched the solar panel project. This was supposed to pay for itself and save hundreds of thousands of dollars, but where has that gotten us? We saved a few bucks each of the last five years or so thanks to their poor planning and now they're asking for year's worth of no tax increases back in one year.
For years, the people of Lacey have walked up to the podium in the West Wing of the High School, which I'm sure we over planned for and are still paying for, and asked them not to use the surplus. Save when we still can and use the money when it is needed.
Let's not blame Superintendent Brower for this. She wasn't here. But let's talk about what she has done since joining the district last year: Spend our hard-earned money.
She claims to have a plan for the future of Lacey, but ever since she started, the only thing she and the Board have done is spend, spend, spend. A full-day kindergarten, block scheduling, random drug testing.
The list goes on and on and on, but leads to the same, never-ending yellow-brick road to Oz. To them, there's no such thing as a spending cap, instead a tree full of money. As our wallets empty, do you think any of these initiatives is actually helping the district? Nope. Lacey Township is currently the 334th out of 590 in the state, and declining. Seems like money well spent to me.
There's no doubt that Lacey Township is still feeling the effects from Hurricane Sandy. People are still without homes. We're all penny pinching because lets face it, the next storm could be worse. Little did we know, the next storm wasn't from Mother Nature herself, but was formed by our own people. Citizens that we voted in.
While I don't always agree with what the Town Council has done over the last five years, they have at least been up front and tightened their own belt. They've added only when absolutely necessary and erased high-cost programs, replacing them with ones that pay for themselves.
Maybe its time the Board of Education learned from the five members of the Town Council, who oversee a larger budget, with more limitations.
If this isn't possible, we need to make a stand. Show the Board of Education who is really in charge of this town's money. Call your local congressman or the Department of Education to show your displeasure. When the time comes, hit them where it hurts…at your local polling place.
It's time to take back what is rightfully ours. The Township of Lacey.
From,
Tim LeCras
A Former Lacey BOE Supporter
William J Moss
8:55 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Tim Great Letter . It is just a shame that the people of Lacey just don't care . Just come to the Budget meeting tomorrow night and see for yourself . Only a few showed up for the budget presentation on Monday . Like you said it's up to the voters .But they will still vote the old way . The only reason you see people at the city council meeting is usually for there own self interest not the interest of the town . There are a few people who do care , but very few of them . Another thing take a look at what the schools reduced If you look hard you see a trend where it seems to affect the students programs activities etc not the area where the most money goes (benefits payroll $51.711.699.million of $71,029,145 Total Expenditures
TheGreatHoax
9:27 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Check out the union contract the BOE negotiated and approved.Go to:
www.laceyschools.org
Click on Board of Education
Click on District Financial Data, Contracts, Job Descriptions
Click on LTASA Agreement
Read it & weep. Unbelievable benefits! They're paying $5 generic/$10 name brand for prescriptions! That's been unheard of in private industry for decades! No effort to save costs in benefits (i.e. increase copay, mailorder presc., realistic increase contribution to premium, coordination of benefits etc.) Tuition 75% reimbursement, banking over 30 vacation days, the list goes on!!
All members of the BOE are OUT OF TOUCH with the condition of the economy and the losses incurred by taxpayers of this town and the country. They have been relatively unaffected as they are ALL on the gravy train through their employment or the employment of their spouse in a taxpayer funded job. HOW CAN A CONTRACT THIS LUCRATIVE BE APPROVED!! PRIVATE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN CUTTING BENEFITS AND SALARY INCREASES FOR YEARS IN AN ATTEMPT TO HOLD DOWN HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. This contract in an insult to all taxpayers that public district employees SERVE.
This is NOT to disparage teachers who have a lot to deal with from unrealistic mandates forced on them from state and federal agencies to unteachable kids that come from homes with no discipline or real parenting. The bully unions push these unrealistic contracts but employees must understand the COST IS UNSUSTAINABLE!
PattiS
10:59 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
You've got this exactly backwards. The problem isn't that the teachers have lavish benefits. That used to be defined as a middle class life. The question is why you don't have them too. All those things are vanishing in the private sector, true, but the answer isn't to pull them down to our level - it's to pull us back up.
Regina Discenza
9:35 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Thanks for noticing!! I tried to have them discuss this issue Monday night. Please watch the 3/18 Board meeting on Chan 21 or watch it on the school's website at your convenience. Follow the links to WLTS- chan 21.
VOTE DISCENZA NOV. 2013. My candidate petition for Lacey BOE is filed.
And please come to a meeting!! Next one is Mon April 15th 7:30PM. Only 16 people attended the Budget public hearing Fri. night.
TheGreatHoax
11:22 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
The benefits are lavish. Business not funded by the taxpayer doesn't have the luxury of dipping into taxpayer pockets to pay for increased expenses. When you're on the gravy train you refuse to acknowledge it. It's unsustainable.
educator
5:26 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
As an educator, although not a Lacey teacher, I would like to point out a few things that many of the Lacey Patch posters fail to realize. Number one, school ranking-these stats are ridiculous, no one has mentioned the DFG or comparing schools that are similar. You cannot compare Lacey to Rumson Fair Haven or a magnet school in Newark. The website is private and does not provide a methodology for their statistics, that scares me. Next, the value of homes will decrease with a poor school system; Lakewood is a perfect example of this. finally, lacey is far from a failling school district. Take a look at the economics in this town, many people are just making it as many like to point out. This has a profound effect on education. We do not have a teacher problem or administration problem but a cultural issue. Why do students from Lacey go to OCC? Thats what they can afford. As a graduate of Lacey I understand that choice. I had the opportunity to attend a very prestigious college and opted for the cheaper state school. Many of our students here make that choice every year.
JOHNNY Done it
6:15 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
The issue is one largely due too economics these kids are trying to stay local to keep college expenses down..AS parents & adults our property values dropping due too our economy so is the family income.. 2nd We have the storm damage to contend with lowering the amount of money the town is getting ,, 3rd the stats as you said is not comparing apples to apples..4th Dr brower thinks she is in rumson spending money , time to tighten the belt Like the private sector , if necessary reduce management ..or pay cuts or the door is there They know how to raise taxes not reduce overhead...Make poor decisions on large capital projects (solar) failed to look at future forecasts on the value of ESRECS ,Than using it directly to finance there budget
Regina Discenza
9:29 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Tim, I see a possible inaccuracy in your letter.
Lacey Township budget hovers around $25-$26 million. Lacey BOE budget is nearly 3 times that.... now at $71 million with an enrollment of 4600.
Please come to meetings if you can-thanks.
Regina D.
Bob Smith
1:50 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Well this is all interesting to say the least. But will any of the complainers on here actually do anything?? please don't write on blogs and complain and moan. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! Go to the meetings. make yourself heard after all it is YOUR MONEY that the school board keeps spending like a drunken sailor... I went two years ago and I was treated with dis-respect by both the School Board and members of the teachers union who had the nerve to say to me "why I was doing this"... well there is a good reason. I am mad as hell and I aint going to take it anymore.. Thats why .. Now take my advice and go to those meetings and tell them that john Gault sent you!!