Letter: Moving School Election to November Bad Idea
Resident says it takes away taxpayer oversight
We the taxpayers of Toms River should ask our board of education to think long and hard before making a change to our school board election date.
The move to November 2012 would first eliminate the taxpayers' right to vote on the budget for four years and also extend the term of board members, some of whom have voting conflicts. Board members with conflicts have cost the taxpayers dearly through bias decisions made over past years. The sooner we replace them the better off the taxpayer and school system will be.
Toms River taxpayers pay $133.5 million dollars locally and $64 million dollars in state aid to our school system. Taxpayers that foot such a large bill deserve to vote on the school budget.
The additional cost of the April election is 1/32 of 1 percent of the school budget, about $60,000. The additional costs of not voting on the school budget could cost taxpayers millions.
The move to a November election is the board’s decision. Let's take a "wait and see" attitude. This is a uniquely large School District. There is always next year to change our election date after seeing how it’s working out around the State.
Let's do the right thing and let the boss, the taxpayer, make the decision on our school budget.
Any board member who decides to take away the taxpayers’ vote should and will be replaced in the next board election.
Les Kennett
Toms River Resident
Robert Bressman
8:05 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
If a school budget is turned down, the town council can still approve it, so do we really have the vote? and if the Town Council put a school budget through do you think they would get voted out of office? A dog catcher could run for town Council and win if he were a republican, so let's get real about what moving the election means. We'll save money on running the elections and Gilmore and company have less control of who sits on the School Board. You control the budget by who sits on the school board not by voting on it.
Joseph Herbert
9:47 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
The problem with leaving the school board election in the thrall of the school board is the same as leaving the fox in charge of the hen house. The April School Board election, is conducted in a way that guarrantees the vested special interests free and all-encompassing control of the result. The initial Opinion Editorial is obviously the work of a special interest committee, or an associated individual. We must have these issues plebicite conducted in November when we can all voice our opinions.
riverfest
10:02 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
any board member up for election this year voting to move the elections to november is essentially voting as well to extend their own terms - they should abstain - they are also voting to extend the contracts of the paid professionals. the taxpayer cannot vote on the budget - bottom line - you are giving the super and business administrator free reign to in crease the budget by millions yes millions of dollars every year without a chance to vote on it. we'll see the typical arrogance by the old sitting board - ritacco appointed business administrator - ritacco remnants and superintendent ritacco designate roselli - push for the november change to benefit their own interests and agenda.
Mr. ?
10:56 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
So Mr. Herbert, You are saying "....conducted in November when we can all voice our opinions." That you are in favor of November elections? AND SO EVERYONE DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH THEIR OPINION ON THE PATCH?" "plebiscite, is a vote by all the people about a political issue." SO ALL THE TAXPAYERS ARE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN AN APRIL ELECTION? I wont even touch the rest of your comments. Singed, Chicken man
Mr. ?
11:08 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Whoops! typo. Signed Chicken Man, associate of the Hen House Committee
Laurence Hecker
1:16 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I am surprised at the lack of understanding at what the new law encompasses regarding school board elections. The four year provision only means that once the shift to November is adopted it can't be changed for four years. School board members are not automatically extended in their terms for four years. The main difference, aside from saving a ton of money and opening the process to more prospective candidates, is that the voters lose the right to vote on the budget if the board stays within the 2% cap. While I don't like that provision, my distaste for it is insufficient to not endorse the shift of the election to November. April elections serve to perpetuate a continuum of inelpt and uncaring school board members who never change short of a catastropic event, such as occurred last year with the Ritacco scandal (as alleged).
Fedup
1:20 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
The school board elections will be held when Monahan and Gilmore decide what month is best suited to padding their bank accounts.
riverfest
1:44 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
perhaps it is you not understanding this years implications - board members who terms would have expired in april would now have those terms extended to the new general election date in november - current professional contracts would be extended as well- staying " with in " the 2% cap guarantees increased spending - unregulated - by millions - millions of $ each year . x 4 years - compounded - do the math. april elections bring to light ritacco and cronies misgivings - the voters have a chance to focus on issues as related to school system. - 3 new board members last year. hopefully 3 new ones this year in april -