|
|
Donate via PayPal.
Use the button above. It's a secure
and easy way to donate to this
important town non-profit, grassroots,
informational organization.
Donations, unfortunately, are
not tax deductible. Thank you
for your support.
Or send a personal check.
If you prefer, send a check made out to WeLoveMillburn, Inc., Treasurer, 25 Stewart Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078.
Your local United Way serves needs right here in Millburn/Short Hills. Give today. www.unitedwayofmillburn.org.
WeLoveMillburn.com supports the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Specify "2008 Hurricane Season Relief". Contribute at our local American Red Cross chapter, 389 Millburn Ave., Short Hills, NJ 07078 (973-379-4198) or the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013 (1-800-RED-CROSS). Text "Give" to 2Help (24357) to donate $5. Internet users can make a secure online contribution at www.redcross.org.
|
|
|
WeLoveMillburn offers congratulations
and urges vigilance moving forward.
Millburn, NJ — April 21, 2010 — WeLoveMillburn congratulates the three members elected to the Board of Education. WLM is also disappointed that a small minority of residents voted to approve the school budget.*
"Although WLM had initially approached the budget issue as one related to improperly generated and continued excess surpluses, WLM had recognized the facts had changed when the state withdrew all aid for wealthier school districts," said WLM President Ralph Inglese. "We tried to inform the community that our school tax-and-spend policy was unsustainable. Now, with this passed budget, the work of the school board will become much more difficult, and for the next budget, our district will endure mammoth cuts in staff and programs."
"Kicking the can down the road is not an effective strategy," WLM Chairman Mike Becker added. "Our in-coming Superintendent will not have the luxury of overtaxing the community and socking away pockets of excess funds as had been done by the out-going Administration."
WLM explained to the community that this year's budget essentially borrows from the future to fund what the Administration would not cut in order to close the looming $3 million to $5 million hole the district will certainly face next year. Gov. Christie has proposed capping tax increases at 2.5%. Even if the current 4% cap remains, the math compels the conclusion: Our district will have a huge gap between taxes and expenditures. This is simply unsustainable.
"As a community, we have stuck our heads in the sand, hoping for a lottery ticket next year," WLM Treasurer Jeff Diecidue said. "Because of non-transparency in the budgeting process, years of using inflated enrollment projections resulting in the obtaining of waivers from spending caps, and the apparently deliberate practice of inflating budgets to generate surplus above state-mandated caps, our district's fiscal situation has become an incomprehensible mess."
WLM has publicly asked the Board of Education to perform an independent audit of what has occurred with our budget over the past 10 years — how our district got to this unsustainable place. In light of what transpired during this last budgeting process — the lack of hard comparable data, the "finding" of $1 million in additional surplus over a four-day span, among other things — the BOE's fiduciary obligations force it to immediately begin an independent audit of our schools fiscal management.
*And in total, out of about 13,000 registered voters, only 3,130 residents voted either way — better than last year which was only 1,302 but not a great example of involved citizenship.
WeLoveMillburn is a non-profit, grassroots, informational organization made up of a complete cross section of involved residents. This mission is to help all residents be better informed about the issues and opportunities that affect the community. The goal of members: help make the community a better place to live. We do this in a positive spirit of informing one another about what is happening, what is not happening and what is possible. We are all neighbors and this is our town. Please visit www.WeLoveMillburn.com, review our reports and consider joining the organization or just sign up for the email newsletter at Info@WeLoveMillburn.com
Officers of WeLoveMillburn
Mike Becker, Chairman, BeckerMK@aol.com, 973-271-3135
Ralph Inglese, President, Ralph.Inglese@gmail.com, 646-361-3363
Jeff Diecidue, Treasurer, JeffDiecidue@yahoo.com, 973-376-9458
Liz O’Brien, Secretary, LizOBF@aol.com, 917-328-0449
|
