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Dear Editor, The Item,
I would like to offer a different
perspective on Millburn's taxes, as regards the educational
component, than
what we have heard from our Board of Education. If
I could paraphrase the BoE's position through this
past administration: this is what a first-rate educational
system costs, why worry because our home prices are
being driven higher due to the reputation of the
schools, and really this tax issue is otherwise just
a nuisance.
My perspective is that property taxes are THE issue
that is changing our community — it is the tail that
is wagging this dog. In fact taxes are essentially
determining which houses are appreciating, where people
live in town, and it is driving not only elderly but
also entire families out of town. I first take exception
with the BoE's basic premise that home prices are appreciating
throughout the town. Some certainly are — mainly the "lower-end-priced" homes
(which are still quite expensive) because they provide
a better educational value and entry point into town.
The high-end prices have gone through the roof, however
that is not appreciation but large McMansions resulting
from knockdowns — and the main factor that inhibits
their sales is taxes — $100,000/year on a $5M house.
Many of us in the middle-priced area (which might be
expensive for entry level and too much to knock down)
have seen literally NO appreciation with our taxes
increasing over 100% in less than 5 years. This ever-growing
property tax burden is an albatross on our home value
and will push us to move sooner than expected from
the area. And the faster you push people out of town
who are not getting value from the system (being replaced
with larger families), the faster you push the school
population growth curve and hence school costs.
One key measure of value is the average class size
which I understand to be 18 township-wide. My daughter
is entering Kindergarten at Hartshorn this fall where
they are currently projecting K-class sizes of 22,
with only one teacher in the room for the entire day
and a part-time assistant. Does this sound appropriate
for Kindergartners? Is this "value"?
And I'm not sure if our educational cost reflects the
cost of a superior school system. I was a product of
this system and I believe in it. But I've always felt
that the SAT scores and number of National Merit Scholars,
rather than being a result of superior educators, was
more a function of the presence of many bright people
in town and a supportive environment that exists here.
We do have a great school system but once again let's
also keep in perspective what drives what. On the whole
our schools do a good job of taking round stones and
rolling them downhill.
What I do know is that the cost of our schools is changing
the face of our community and driving who lives where
and who leaves. I can only hope that with a change
in BoE adminstration, our leaders can be free and inspired
to take a fresh look at this with a realistic perspective.
Respectfully,
Dave Graziano
121 Slope Drive
Short Hills, NJ 07078
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