Cynthia
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On the article Class Rank Elimination Finding to Have Additional Hearing
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On the article Municipal Taxes Will Increase $95 on Average Montville Home
Cynthia
6:23 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2013
ReplyJust great being a taxpayer and hearing "we're still getting the job done."
This is the era of declining services and budget tightening, agreed. If someone could address the real problem of 20-30% increases each and every year in health insurance costs, perhaps it would help. Oops, even our president has made a meager attempt but done little to change it. Now what?
BTW, which department handles potholes? A good number of our roads have them. I'm pretty sure that work is not "still getting done".
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On the article No Tax Increase in Morris Budget, Up For Adoption Wednesday
Cynthia
4:01 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
school taxes and all property taxes are in the hands of the governor. he has done an ok job with the 2% cap and the increases have slowed down. so has your local done a good job.
but the big change has to be to overturn the grossly unfair abbott district ruling. when he was here for the town hall he said he is trying to change the complexion of NJ Supreme court's judges to make changes to this law. Sweeney, he said, is stopping him from doing it. send Sweeney an email to get him to stop blocking Christie. If the Abbott law is changed, our taxes could seriously go down. seriously.
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On the article No Bomb Found After Lazar School Threat
Cynthia
7:38 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
ReplyTwo points:
1. I hope they find the person that did this and prosecute. You have to be sick to affect so many people. There is a cost to it and the person that did this should pay. Good luck finding him/her.
2. The superintendent handled the communication for this very well. Just the right amount and timely. -
On the article State Aid Increases by $1 in Montville
Cynthia
9:18 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Replyhttp://www.state.nj.us/education/stateaid/1314/district.pdf
If anyone can figure out what the reasoning was for increases in state aid to various towns tell me please. Looks like some beach towns got more. Really looks like no rhyme or reason. Perhaps if you know someone in the Christie administration, you got more?
Montville should take the dollar and send it back to Trenton. It's a slap in the face considering how little we already get.
The Abbott district ruling is unfair to the suburbs.
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On the article Fire Taxes Totaling $1.76M Up for Vote in Montville
Cynthia
12:48 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Mr. Grant, your posts seem to always have the community at heart. I have read that you served for 15 years on Town Council. Your attitude is refreshing!
While I am not, in any way, connected to you or the fire department, I would like to say thank you to them and you. I am sure those that are ungrateful about the services they provide, especially as mostly volunteers (which I presume keeps our costs down?), would change the negativity were they on the other end (and I hope and pray they never are) of a fire.
Thank you!
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On the article School Budget Presentation, Montville Fire District Elections This Week
Cynthia
9:55 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Actually, Ed, below is the link to the article from 1/17/12 (a year ago!), on NJ.Com which describes that our governor, Chris Christie, came up with the idea to move the school board elections to November:
Link: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/gov_christie_signs_bill_changi.html
Also, it looks like 80% of the state's school boards are now voting in November, not just your local one. (http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/09/24/most-n-j-school-districts-are-moving-their-election-dates/ )
direct quote:
"TRENTON — .... under legislation signed by Gov. Chris Christie today....
The new law allows school districts to move their April elections to the November general election.... In districts that move elections to November, boards will also no longer have to seek voter approval for budgets that fall within the state's 2 percent tax levy increase cap."This move by CC has kept budgets at or below the 2% cap. From the way it reads, if the budget is over 2%, then there is a vote.
Sometimes, instead of just placing blame (albeit on a blog) without knowledge, it's best to do some research first.
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On the article School Budget Presentation, Montville Fire District Elections This Week
Cynthia
9:51 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Actually, Ed, below is the link to the article from 1/17/12 (a year ago!), on NJ.Com which describes that our governor, Chris Christie, came up with the idea to move the school board elections to November:
Link: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/gov_christie_signs_bill_changi.html
Also, it looks like 80% of the state's school boards are now voting in November, not just your local one. (http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/09/24/most-n-j-school-districts-are-moving-their-election-dates/ )
direct quote:
"TRENTON — .... under legislation signed by Gov. Chris Christie today....
The new law allows school districts to move their April elections to the November general election.... In districts that move elections to November, boards will also no longer have to seek voter approval for budgets that fall within the state's 2 percent tax levy increase cap."This move by CC has kept budgets at or below the 2% cap. From the way it reads, if the budget is over 2%, then there is a vote.
While it may or may not be too good for the programs or buildings at the schools, it is good for taxpayers, especially those that could care less about the schools.
Sometimes, instead of just placing blame (albeit on a blog) without knowledge, it's best to do some research first.
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On the article School Budget Presentation, Montville Fire District Elections This Week
Cynthia
9:16 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Actually, Ed, below is the link to the article from January 17th, 2012, on NJ.Com which describes that it was your governor, Chris Christie, who came up with the idea to move the school board elections to November and IF a school board elects to do so AND submits a budget below the 2% cap, then there is no budget vote.
Link: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/gov_christie_signs_bill_changi.html
direct quote:
"TRENTON — New Jersey voters may no longer have a direct say on their school boards' spending, under legislation signed by Gov. Chris Christie today that would allow districts to dispense with seeking approval for budgets that meet the state's spending cap.
The new law allows school districts to move their April elections to the November general election, either by asking voters for their OK — or by a resolution of the local school board or governing body.
In districts that move elections to November, boards will also no longer have to seek voter approval for budgets that fall within the state's 2 percent tax levy increase cap."This move by CC has kept budgets at or below the 2% cap. While that's probably not good for the programs at the schools, the buildings, the employees, it is good for the taxpayer.
Sometimes, instead of just placing blame (albeit on a blog) without knowledge, it's best to do some research first.
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On the article 'Keeping Children First' a Recognition Point for Montville BOE
Cynthia
12:38 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
ReplyThank you, Mr. Grant. The 'thought' of the idea above to 'consolidate the 40 superintendents' into one? That has to be said by someone without kids. From an educational standpoint it makes zero sense. So, the 'county superintendent' will even look at Montville's needs? I would think he/she would think of all towns the same. In that scenario, Montville=Lincoln Park=Dover=Morristown=Morris Hills. Sure just axe this and axe that. Cookie cutter towns. All the same. Cost cutting and reduction of programs? Sorry, that's not my vision for where I live and I am glad it's not yours.
I could see merging some of the smaller districts, but not one our size. That is one of the main reasons people live here.
Cynthia
6:44 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
It's so interesting to see such uninformed comments. Speak first, evaluate second. Seems to be the way it happens.
I was at the 'class rank' task force report meeting. I would think none of you above were. Were you?
The 'high priced nice sized salaried people placed on the payroll to create, head, and all else....' were two students, a number of parents, the head of guidance, a couple of teachers, and the humanities supervisor. Yep, it cost us millions. Trillions.
If you were there, you'd know that this diverse group from pretty much every walk of life, including a parent that seemed to have a child high up in his/her class who walked onto the task force wanting to keep class rank, everyone, said there is simply no benefit. They even spoke to an expert who was the Dean of Admissions at a top college and he verified that, in most cases, it hurts applicants to show a class rank.
There was a brilliant comment above about our students not being prepared for work in their future because of THIS? Take a look where kids got in to colleges this year and past years. Know any graduates? You're really looking silly on that comment, too.
It seems to me that each kid has their own GPA. They know how their performance is. What they won't have (if this happens) is a number printed on their sleeve telling them where they stand and where there friends are.
Perhaps # 254, #38, and #14 all who know his/her GPA is ok with being the only person to know it, too.