In a sparsely attended meeting that lasted only about ten minutes this afternoon, a five-person quorum of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education voted unanimously on proposals to accept the offer of the Bridgewater-Raritan Employee Association (BREA).
The Board also voted to approve the budget for the 2010/2011 fiscal school year beginning July 1st. It now will be submitted to Trudy Doyle, the Somerset County Executive Superintendent for her sign-off and inclusion on the April 20th ballot where voters will have the final say.
In its revised contract agreement, the union membership, according to a statement released by Superintendent Michael Schilder, “agreed to contribute 1.5% of their salaries towards the cost of health care.” BREA members also gave up $403,000 of tuition reimbursements.
Union membership voted by an overwhelming margin of 2 to 1 in favor of these concessions.
The total cost of these give-backs is $1.4 million, but the amount is a wash in the expense budget and on the school tax rate because, in return, the Board agreed to restore teaching positions, as well as other programs slated for elimination in prior budget drafts.
The tax levy for the Bridgewater-Raritan School district will rise by 4.95% from last year. However, the Bridgewater Township school tax levy will go up by 5.42%, while the Raritan Borough school tax levy will go up by 3.90%.
This anomaly in school tax levies between the two municipalities is, according to Peter Starrs, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, caused by three factors: One of them is a New Jersey proration formula, and the other two are the valuations and ratables for each municipality.
Sounds complicated and it is, but the percentages can swing from year to year with Raritan, in some years, getting a higher percent share.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Bonjour, Bridgewater & Raritan
This is the day that we will find out how the teachers, secretaries and custodians voted on the proposal that the leadership of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association placed before them on Monday.
The count is over: All the ballots are in, and the membership will get the results late this morning. Once the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education gets notified, the rest of us will find out how it turned out.
Don’t expect any huge surprise. The membership of the BREA is not totally insensitive to the mood of Bridgewater and Raritan these days. Nonetheless, people can only vote for what’s on the ballot in front of them, so don’t expect a wage freeze or partial salary give-back.
Should the membership have voted affirmatively, and I believe it has, what you will see is a $1.4 million give-back of fringe benefits including tuition reimbursements and contributions to health care costs. If the vote has been in the negative – unlikely – then may God help us all.
The Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education will meet today at 2:00 PM in the Wade Administration Building in Martinsville to reflect the BREA’s offer and to pass the final budget for the 2010/2011 school year.
Voilà!
The count is over: All the ballots are in, and the membership will get the results late this morning. Once the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education gets notified, the rest of us will find out how it turned out.
Don’t expect any huge surprise. The membership of the BREA is not totally insensitive to the mood of Bridgewater and Raritan these days. Nonetheless, people can only vote for what’s on the ballot in front of them, so don’t expect a wage freeze or partial salary give-back.
Should the membership have voted affirmatively, and I believe it has, what you will see is a $1.4 million give-back of fringe benefits including tuition reimbursements and contributions to health care costs. If the vote has been in the negative – unlikely – then may God help us all.
The Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education will meet today at 2:00 PM in the Wade Administration Building in Martinsville to reflect the BREA’s offer and to pass the final budget for the 2010/2011 school year.
Voilà!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
BREA Concessions
The Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association voted yesterday on a proposed $1.4 million of concessions that would help to save some jobs and programs. Obviously, this won’t be sufficient to offset all of the anticipated state aid that was built into the original Bridgewater and Raritan Schools budget proposed in December, 2009, for the new school year beginning July 1st, 2010.
If the BREA membership has voted in favor of the $1.4M of give-backs, its impact will be folded into the final budget of the B-R BOE on Wednesday.
You may recall that, on March 23rd, according to Board President Jeffrey Brookner, the B-R BOE had projected saving “over $3 million worth of teacher jobs in exchange for givebacks worth approximately $1.7 million.”
That offer was not presented to the BREA membership. Instead, the association leadership returned to the table with a counteroffer of $1.4M in givebacks, in exchange for a like amount of job and program savings by the B-R BOE.
The original Board offer of March 23rd had asked for “the union to forgo $403,000 worth of tuition reimbursements,” and to “reduce its scheduled raise from 4.35% to 2%” beginning on July 1.
How probable is it that the BREA’s counter-offer of $1.4M in give-backs will include a lowering of its scheduled 4.35% hike to 2%? Very unlikely.
Remember, the unions for the principals and the supervisors – the BRPA & the BRSA – had declined to freeze or to reduce their salaries. Their offer which was accepted by the B-R BOE was to pay 1.5% for their health benefits and to forego a small amount of other benefits similar to tuition reimbursements.
The BREA, if it voted to accept the $1.4M in give-backs, is likely to mirror the principals’ and supervisors’ lead and to propose a giveback of tuition reimbursements combined with an offer to pay a portion of their health benefits. Just like the other groups.
If the BREA membership has voted in favor of the $1.4M of give-backs, its impact will be folded into the final budget of the B-R BOE on Wednesday.
You may recall that, on March 23rd, according to Board President Jeffrey Brookner, the B-R BOE had projected saving “over $3 million worth of teacher jobs in exchange for givebacks worth approximately $1.7 million.”
That offer was not presented to the BREA membership. Instead, the association leadership returned to the table with a counteroffer of $1.4M in givebacks, in exchange for a like amount of job and program savings by the B-R BOE.
The original Board offer of March 23rd had asked for “the union to forgo $403,000 worth of tuition reimbursements,” and to “reduce its scheduled raise from 4.35% to 2%” beginning on July 1.
How probable is it that the BREA’s counter-offer of $1.4M in give-backs will include a lowering of its scheduled 4.35% hike to 2%? Very unlikely.
Remember, the unions for the principals and the supervisors – the BRPA & the BRSA – had declined to freeze or to reduce their salaries. Their offer which was accepted by the B-R BOE was to pay 1.5% for their health benefits and to forego a small amount of other benefits similar to tuition reimbursements.
The BREA, if it voted to accept the $1.4M in give-backs, is likely to mirror the principals’ and supervisors’ lead and to propose a giveback of tuition reimbursements combined with an offer to pay a portion of their health benefits. Just like the other groups.
Monday, March 29, 2010
A Time for Spiritual Reflection, Sadness and Joyous Celebration
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the first day marking the commemoration of Holy Week which culminates at Easter for Christians throughout the world. Similarly, tonight at sundown is the first day of Passover for those within the Jewish tradition.
This week is among the most sacred periods for both of these ancient traditions. When, during this time of religious observance, Jesus walked into Jerusalem, he was doing it as a Jew entering the city to celebrate the feast of Passover – he was preparing to celebrate the same feast that Jews worldwide celebrate today.
How strange it is that there was a time when these two traditions became so badly at odds, with some in one blaming the other. But both have survived and prospered despite all odds, with their celebrations, their ethical systems and their religious observances intact.
There is a great communality of heart within Judaism and Christianity. The latter owes its very existence to the former. And the former has shown has shown a resolve for survival that, even to this day, will not be denied.
Happy Passover to all Jews of this community. And, in anticipation of next Sunday, Happy Easter to all Christians.
This week is among the most sacred periods for both of these ancient traditions. When, during this time of religious observance, Jesus walked into Jerusalem, he was doing it as a Jew entering the city to celebrate the feast of Passover – he was preparing to celebrate the same feast that Jews worldwide celebrate today.
How strange it is that there was a time when these two traditions became so badly at odds, with some in one blaming the other. But both have survived and prospered despite all odds, with their celebrations, their ethical systems and their religious observances intact.
There is a great communality of heart within Judaism and Christianity. The latter owes its very existence to the former. And the former has shown has shown a resolve for survival that, even to this day, will not be denied.
Happy Passover to all Jews of this community. And, in anticipation of next Sunday, Happy Easter to all Christians.
The Force that Turned the Tide
If you are wondering how this afternoon’s vote by the membership of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association on wage and/or benefit concessions had even the slightest chance of ever taking place, you have to pay attention to a real but rather non-obvious source.
Keep in mind that as recently as on the night of March 23rd in the auditorium at the Middle School in Bridgewater, the head of the teachers’, secretaries’ and custodians’ association had clearly acknowledged before the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education that he “will not accept what has been proposed” by the B-R BOE.
What happened between then and now to make the union leadership change its collective mind? Easy: Very worried and angry parents with children in the B-R School District.
An informal network of parents and individual teachers who felt left out of the process quickly coalesced behind the scenes into an influence that the combined strength of local and state (NJEA) representation could not contain.
Famed Harvard economist J. K. Galbraith once explained this phenomenon. He wrote that when one side in a situation exercises undue influence, there often arises an equally forceful and opposing element. He called this phenomenon countervailing power.
This afternoon, the BREA membership will vote on concessions. Whether that vote is for or against the proposal before it, the entire Bridgewater and Raritan communities will have observed the effect of that countervailing force in action.
At least for this one moment in time, a determined network of parents and individual teachers made their voices loud enough to compel them to be effectively heard.
Keep in mind that as recently as on the night of March 23rd in the auditorium at the Middle School in Bridgewater, the head of the teachers’, secretaries’ and custodians’ association had clearly acknowledged before the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education that he “will not accept what has been proposed” by the B-R BOE.
What happened between then and now to make the union leadership change its collective mind? Easy: Very worried and angry parents with children in the B-R School District.
An informal network of parents and individual teachers who felt left out of the process quickly coalesced behind the scenes into an influence that the combined strength of local and state (NJEA) representation could not contain.
Famed Harvard economist J. K. Galbraith once explained this phenomenon. He wrote that when one side in a situation exercises undue influence, there often arises an equally forceful and opposing element. He called this phenomenon countervailing power.
This afternoon, the BREA membership will vote on concessions. Whether that vote is for or against the proposal before it, the entire Bridgewater and Raritan communities will have observed the effect of that countervailing force in action.
At least for this one moment in time, a determined network of parents and individual teachers made their voices loud enough to compel them to be effectively heard.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Tentative Agreement Reached with BREA
Friday night, at a special session of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education at the High School auditorium, Board President Jeffrey Brookner disclosed that a provisional agreement had been reached with representatives of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association on wage and/or benefits concessions.
Mr. Brookner stated that the Board Negotiations Team and BREA representatives had reached this agreement only about an hour before the start of the public meeting. It calls for employees of the association to give up $1.4 million in concessions, in exchange for the Board’s reinstating of a like amount of budget cuts in the form of positions and program restorations.
Superintendent Dr. Michael Schilder described to the audience where these job and program restorations would tentatively be made in the budget. Representatives of the BREA have not yet identified the nature of the $1.4M in givebacks.
This provisional agreement needs to be ratified by the membership of the BREA before the Board of Education can act upon it. A ratification meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, March 29th at 4 PM in the High School auditorium, where the membership will be presented with the details.
On Wednesday, March 31st, at the Wade Administration Building in Martinsville, the Board of Education will meet at 8:00 AM to vote on a final budget. The meeting will be short, as the Board is expected to take a straight up or down vote.
Mr. Brookner stated that the Board Negotiations Team and BREA representatives had reached this agreement only about an hour before the start of the public meeting. It calls for employees of the association to give up $1.4 million in concessions, in exchange for the Board’s reinstating of a like amount of budget cuts in the form of positions and program restorations.
Superintendent Dr. Michael Schilder described to the audience where these job and program restorations would tentatively be made in the budget. Representatives of the BREA have not yet identified the nature of the $1.4M in givebacks.
This provisional agreement needs to be ratified by the membership of the BREA before the Board of Education can act upon it. A ratification meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, March 29th at 4 PM in the High School auditorium, where the membership will be presented with the details.
On Wednesday, March 31st, at the Wade Administration Building in Martinsville, the Board of Education will meet at 8:00 AM to vote on a final budget. The meeting will be short, as the Board is expected to take a straight up or down vote.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
BREA Members Authorize Talks with B-R BOE
Today, the membership of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association voted to authorize its leadership to meet with the Negotiations Team of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education for the purpose of re-opening contract talks.
If there is still time to agree and to make changes, this will be a last-minute deal that should, if it comes out right, have a better-than-currently-envisioned impact on the level of the 2010/2011 expense budget of the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, its employees, and Bridgewater-Raritan taxpayers.
But nothing is over until it’s over.
The timeline is now extremely tight because, as previously mentioned, the B-R BOE is scheduled to vote on a final budget tomorrow evening for submission to the County Superintendent early next week.
Folding last-minute changes into a budget of this size and complexity – unless they are minor – will require a major push by the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, should an agreement be reached.
Maybe this comes under the practice of getting everyone into a room and not letting anybody out until a consensus is reached.
If there is still time to agree and to make changes, this will be a last-minute deal that should, if it comes out right, have a better-than-currently-envisioned impact on the level of the 2010/2011 expense budget of the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, its employees, and Bridgewater-Raritan taxpayers.
But nothing is over until it’s over.
The timeline is now extremely tight because, as previously mentioned, the B-R BOE is scheduled to vote on a final budget tomorrow evening for submission to the County Superintendent early next week.
Folding last-minute changes into a budget of this size and complexity – unless they are minor – will require a major push by the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, should an agreement be reached.
Maybe this comes under the practice of getting everyone into a room and not letting anybody out until a consensus is reached.
Wage Concessions Update for B-R Schools
Sometime subsequent to Tuesday’s meeting of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education at the Middle School and the posting of this brief message, representatives of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association decided to poll its association membership for authority to re-enter negotiations with the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education.
Time is extraordinarily short for a decision, because the B-R BOE has to finalize a budget and vote on it by tomorrow evening. The final budget needs to be submitted to Trudy Doyle, the County Superintendent of Schools early next week.
I don’t know if the voting is complete (it should be by now), what the results are, or if an offer has been presented to the B-R BOE Negotiations Team. Or whether time has run out.
If the BREA membership authorized its leadership to proffer an offer, chances are very high that it now sits before Board of Education representatives for consideration and subsequent inclusion into the budget process.
Time is extraordinarily short for a decision, because the B-R BOE has to finalize a budget and vote on it by tomorrow evening. The final budget needs to be submitted to Trudy Doyle, the County Superintendent of Schools early next week.
I don’t know if the voting is complete (it should be by now), what the results are, or if an offer has been presented to the B-R BOE Negotiations Team. Or whether time has run out.
If the BREA membership authorized its leadership to proffer an offer, chances are very high that it now sits before Board of Education representatives for consideration and subsequent inclusion into the budget process.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Schools’ Union Chief Rejects Wage Concessions
After weeks of successfully asking to be admitted into the budgeting process with the Bridgewater-Raritan School Board, Mr. Steve Beatty, President of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association revealed last night that he refused to take the Board’s offer to his membership for a vote.
The B-R BOE had requested the BREA to “reduce its scheduled raise from 4.35% to 2%, and to forgo $403,000 worth of tuition reimbursements.” In exchange, the B-R BOE “offered to submit a budget calling for a $1.7 million tax-levy increase beyond the 4% cap.”
The Board had further committed that the resultant savings would be applied to the last round of budget cuts. The effect of this, according to a statement by B-R BOE President, Jeffrey Brookner, is that it would give “the teachers’ union the opportunity to save over $3 million worth of teacher jobs in exchange for givebacks worth approximately $1.7 million.”
No deal!
Instead, Mr. Beatty addressed the School Board at the Middle School last night, acknowledging that he “felt awful when he left school Friday,” and that he had been ”flip-flopping about it on Saturday.” (The B-R BOE Negotiations Team and school bargaining units had met on Saturday.)
Emphasizing that he would not accept what had been proposed, Mr. Beatty claimed that the “teachers would be losing $1800 per year, a grossly disproportionate burden on the back of the staff,” while taxpayers would be asked to shoulder only a $288 tax increase. (These numbers have not been verified by the B-R BOE.)
He went on to say that “It is a band aid and would not save Tier 3 cuts.” He confirmed that although he “accepts it in principle” (the Board’s proposal), he “does not agree with the math.”
Mr. Beatty claimed that “it is a bargain for the taxpayers,” and that the B-R BOE “is more concerned with the Town Council.” (This is because, should the budget be defeated on April 20th, it would be remanded to the municipalities of Bridgewater and Raritan for resolution.)
The BREA Chief affirmed that he was “ready right now” to “personally” go with an “offer that is fair and right . . . so don’t tell me that I am unreasonable.” He concluded with, “I will suffer the slings and arrows and hold my head up high.”
Later, in response, Mr. Brookner explained why the B-R BOE could not accept the BREA’s plea to pass on all cuts to due to the loss of state aid to the residents of Bridgewater and Raritan. Probably the most notable of his comments is, “A tax levy of 7% (or more) would go down in a blazing ball of glory.”
The B-R BOE had requested the BREA to “reduce its scheduled raise from 4.35% to 2%, and to forgo $403,000 worth of tuition reimbursements.” In exchange, the B-R BOE “offered to submit a budget calling for a $1.7 million tax-levy increase beyond the 4% cap.”
The Board had further committed that the resultant savings would be applied to the last round of budget cuts. The effect of this, according to a statement by B-R BOE President, Jeffrey Brookner, is that it would give “the teachers’ union the opportunity to save over $3 million worth of teacher jobs in exchange for givebacks worth approximately $1.7 million.”
No deal!
Instead, Mr. Beatty addressed the School Board at the Middle School last night, acknowledging that he “felt awful when he left school Friday,” and that he had been ”flip-flopping about it on Saturday.” (The B-R BOE Negotiations Team and school bargaining units had met on Saturday.)
Emphasizing that he would not accept what had been proposed, Mr. Beatty claimed that the “teachers would be losing $1800 per year, a grossly disproportionate burden on the back of the staff,” while taxpayers would be asked to shoulder only a $288 tax increase. (These numbers have not been verified by the B-R BOE.)
He went on to say that “It is a band aid and would not save Tier 3 cuts.” He confirmed that although he “accepts it in principle” (the Board’s proposal), he “does not agree with the math.”
Mr. Beatty claimed that “it is a bargain for the taxpayers,” and that the B-R BOE “is more concerned with the Town Council.” (This is because, should the budget be defeated on April 20th, it would be remanded to the municipalities of Bridgewater and Raritan for resolution.)
The BREA Chief affirmed that he was “ready right now” to “personally” go with an “offer that is fair and right . . . so don’t tell me that I am unreasonable.” He concluded with, “I will suffer the slings and arrows and hold my head up high.”
Later, in response, Mr. Brookner explained why the B-R BOE could not accept the BREA’s plea to pass on all cuts to due to the loss of state aid to the residents of Bridgewater and Raritan. Probably the most notable of his comments is, “A tax levy of 7% (or more) would go down in a blazing ball of glory.”
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
B-R BOE Budget Reduction Options
A few refreshers: The preliminary budget for the 2010/2011 school year has been submitted to the Somerset County Superintendent of Schools, Trudy Doyle. That budget does not include the last round of $4.4 million of cuts due to the final reduction of state aid. That is why the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education has to decide this week how to handle the final reduction.
The B-R BOE has already presented the four options below to the public:
1. Pass all or a portion of the cost onto the taxpayer by invoking an automatic tax waiver, exceeding the 4% cap on the tax levy. That final revised budget would still have to be approved by the County Superintendent of Schools before being placed on April’s ballot.
2. Insert additional spending proposals on the ballot as separate spending question(s) for voter consideration in the April 20th election, also exceeding the 4% cap. This requires the County Superintendent’s approval prior to budget insertion, and would also require at least 60% voter approval.
3. Implement some combination of the first two options, exceeding the 4% cap as well.
4. Maintain the tax levy increase at its current 4% cap level by absorbing the $4.4M as spending reductions.
However, there is a fifth option that was not part of the mix presented by the B-R BOE last Thursday evening: That is the possibility of still holding the three bargaining units, the BREA (teachers), the BRPA (principals), and the BRSA (supervisors), to a wage freeze. The Board President has made it clear that he and the Negotiations Team had been in discussions on the topic, but could not disclose any specific data.
Yet there are clues. BREA President Steve Beatty has made public statements of his desire to get involved. At the B-R BOE meeting on February 23rd, for example, Mr. Beatty expressed his wish for the BREA to, “…Let us help in restoring funding . . . let us do the right thing, not the popular thing.” He also mentioned the word “lobbying” in his statement to the Board.
Later, during the public portion of the March 18th B-R BOE meeting, Mr. Beatty reinforced that view when he said, “Let us in the process. Let us be part of the process,” he asked.
It sounds good, depending on the results and the nature of the process. But the idea of a wage freeze on next year’s 4.35% scheduled wage hike sounds better.
At least one other option can be imputed from the nature of what we already know. And that is the possibility of the B-R BOE and the bargaining units linking wage concessions to a waiver of the 4% spending cap, or the inclusion of a second ballot question also exceeding the 4% spending cap. Not a good idea.
The B-R BOE has already presented the four options below to the public:
1. Pass all or a portion of the cost onto the taxpayer by invoking an automatic tax waiver, exceeding the 4% cap on the tax levy. That final revised budget would still have to be approved by the County Superintendent of Schools before being placed on April’s ballot.
2. Insert additional spending proposals on the ballot as separate spending question(s) for voter consideration in the April 20th election, also exceeding the 4% cap. This requires the County Superintendent’s approval prior to budget insertion, and would also require at least 60% voter approval.
3. Implement some combination of the first two options, exceeding the 4% cap as well.
4. Maintain the tax levy increase at its current 4% cap level by absorbing the $4.4M as spending reductions.
However, there is a fifth option that was not part of the mix presented by the B-R BOE last Thursday evening: That is the possibility of still holding the three bargaining units, the BREA (teachers), the BRPA (principals), and the BRSA (supervisors), to a wage freeze. The Board President has made it clear that he and the Negotiations Team had been in discussions on the topic, but could not disclose any specific data.
Yet there are clues. BREA President Steve Beatty has made public statements of his desire to get involved. At the B-R BOE meeting on February 23rd, for example, Mr. Beatty expressed his wish for the BREA to, “…Let us help in restoring funding . . . let us do the right thing, not the popular thing.” He also mentioned the word “lobbying” in his statement to the Board.
Later, during the public portion of the March 18th B-R BOE meeting, Mr. Beatty reinforced that view when he said, “Let us in the process. Let us be part of the process,” he asked.
It sounds good, depending on the results and the nature of the process. But the idea of a wage freeze on next year’s 4.35% scheduled wage hike sounds better.
At least one other option can be imputed from the nature of what we already know. And that is the possibility of the B-R BOE and the bargaining units linking wage concessions to a waiver of the 4% spending cap, or the inclusion of a second ballot question also exceeding the 4% spending cap. Not a good idea.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wage Negotiations Update for B-R School District
As of 1:00 PM TODAY. The Negotiations Team for the Bridgewater-Raritan School District met on Saturday, March 20th, following a request by Evan Lerner at last Thursday’s Board meeting. Early this afternoon, Mr. Lerner confirmed that Representatives of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association, the Bridgewater-Raritan Principals Association, and the Bridgewater-Raritan Supervisors Association were in attendance at Saturday’s closed door meeting. The state-level New Jersey Education Association was also represented.
Saturday’s meeting was an ongoing effort by Board President Jeffrey Brookner following his earlier request to these associations to re-open their wage contracts due to this school district’s loss of state aid. Mr. Lerner confirmed that no agreements were reached on Saturday and, that as of 1:00 PM this afternoon, no further meetings are currently scheduled.
I don’t know which tack these discussions will take. Nor do I know if there will be any more meetings to discuss wage concessions. I believe there should be. These associations are part of the solution.
Time is short – budgets need to get finalized by the end of this week. The terms and conditions of any potential last-minute wage concessions need to be fully laid out to the Bridgewater-Raritan community now. In July, the BREA is scheduled to enter the last year of its 3-year 12.8% total wage hike.
Saturday’s meeting was an ongoing effort by Board President Jeffrey Brookner following his earlier request to these associations to re-open their wage contracts due to this school district’s loss of state aid. Mr. Lerner confirmed that no agreements were reached on Saturday and, that as of 1:00 PM this afternoon, no further meetings are currently scheduled.
I don’t know which tack these discussions will take. Nor do I know if there will be any more meetings to discuss wage concessions. I believe there should be. These associations are part of the solution.
Time is short – budgets need to get finalized by the end of this week. The terms and conditions of any potential last-minute wage concessions need to be fully laid out to the Bridgewater-Raritan community now. In July, the BREA is scheduled to enter the last year of its 3-year 12.8% total wage hike.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Simmering Resentment over Wage Hikes
The chorus of demands for the Bridgewater-Raritan Schools administration (including principals and supervisors) to set the example by enacting a voluntary wage freeze on their own compensation has been growing louder as the days go by. That strong sentiment was made abundantly clear at last Thursday’s meeting at the JFK School in Raritan Borough, when many motivated speakers challenged the administration on that topic.
The audience consisted largely of parents with school-age children, as well as a very large contingent of bargaining unit staff personnel who made their presence known. But there were also several residents without kids in the school system. It took a lot of guts to get up to that mike and declare that this is the time for a wage freeze.
The idea that this community needs to push back on wage hikes that it can no longer afford is not new. Nor is it simply my own. A year ago, on March 11, 2009, I wrote a blog post highlighting an example from the administrator of another school district. Below is an excerpt:
So there you have it.
Getting the three Bridgewater-Raritan schools bargaining units to see the economic light is like trying to start a camp fire in the rain.
The largest of these groups, the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association has been meeting in the last 24 hours with its membership to consider the issue. At Thursday’s meeting, Board member Evan Lerner, who is on the Negotiations Team, publicly asked to meet with representatives of the BREA.
That meeting should happen on Monday, one day before the full board of education is scheduled to meet to refine its budgeting strategy. The other two members of the Negotiations Team are Board President Jeffrey Brookner and Board Member Lynne Hurley.
Meanwhile, the other two significant bargaining units – the first representing school principals and the other representing school supervisors – are hanging tough. Board President Jeffrey Brookner told Thursday evening’s public assembly that these groups have not yet given up a dime of their scheduled pay increases – nada, rien, niente. Thanks for checking in. Stay engaged
Sunday evening, March 21st revisions: This post has been revised to correct the fact that the Bridgewater-Raritan Negotiations Team consists of board members Jeffrey Brookner, Evan Lerner and Lynne Hurley. Board policy gives the board president flexibility in appointments. Cindy Cullen, Jill Gladstone and Arvind Mathur were previously identified as being on the Negotiations Committee. This confusion arose due to an incorrect posting and titling of committee assignments found on the official Bridgewater-Raritan web site.
The audience consisted largely of parents with school-age children, as well as a very large contingent of bargaining unit staff personnel who made their presence known. But there were also several residents without kids in the school system. It took a lot of guts to get up to that mike and declare that this is the time for a wage freeze.
The idea that this community needs to push back on wage hikes that it can no longer afford is not new. Nor is it simply my own. A year ago, on March 11, 2009, I wrote a blog post highlighting an example from the administrator of another school district. Below is an excerpt:
So there you have it.
“In a front-page Courier News article today, Hillsboro Schools Superintendent Edward Forsthoffer III indicated that he would forsake his salary increase for the 2009-2010 school year. Finally! Someone at the top of the administrative chain has decided to do what has been evident to just about every responsible New Jersey taxpaying citizen: Hold the line on salary.
With respect to the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, I’ve had it in mind to write that the administration, beginning with Superintendent of Schools, Dr. J. Michael Schilder and School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, Peter Starrs, should be among the first to give up their pay raises. Their example should be followed by all other leading educators in the Bridgewater-Raritan School District.
I never thought that a superintendent from another nearby school district would be the first to do it. The example has been set, but it’s only a beginning
Getting the three Bridgewater-Raritan schools bargaining units to see the economic light is like trying to start a camp fire in the rain.
The largest of these groups, the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association has been meeting in the last 24 hours with its membership to consider the issue. At Thursday’s meeting, Board member Evan Lerner, who is on the Negotiations Team, publicly asked to meet with representatives of the BREA.
That meeting should happen on Monday, one day before the full board of education is scheduled to meet to refine its budgeting strategy. The other two members of the Negotiations Team are Board President Jeffrey Brookner and Board Member Lynne Hurley.
Meanwhile, the other two significant bargaining units – the first representing school principals and the other representing school supervisors – are hanging tough. Board President Jeffrey Brookner told Thursday evening’s public assembly that these groups have not yet given up a dime of their scheduled pay increases – nada, rien, niente. Thanks for checking in. Stay engaged
Sunday evening, March 21st revisions: This post has been revised to correct the fact that the Bridgewater-Raritan Negotiations Team consists of board members Jeffrey Brookner, Evan Lerner and Lynne Hurley. Board policy gives the board president flexibility in appointments. Cindy Cullen, Jill Gladstone and Arvind Mathur were previously identified as being on the Negotiations Committee. This confusion arose due to an incorrect posting and titling of committee assignments found on the official Bridgewater-Raritan web site.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Bridgewater-Raritan School Board Ponders Budget Cuts
When the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education met last night, it was in shock over having to explain to its audience at the John F. Kennedy School ways to deal out an additional $4.4 million in reductions necessitated by the last round of state aid cuts.
At issue was whether to swallow the entire amount while keeping the tax levy at its current state-mandated 4% cap, or to implement one or more options presented by Superintendent Michael Schilder.
The options are no panacea, and it’s important for residents to understand what they are, how they work, and what their implications are upon the Bridgewater-Raritan real estate tax levy:
1. The Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education can legally invoke an automatic waiver to offset state aid reductions. The cost would be built into the budget and would increase the tax levy beyond the present 4%. This requires no state or county approval and could be implemented next week by the B-R BOE to offset all or a portion of state aid cuts, if the board chose to. Voters would cast their yes or no vote for this in April. We’re talking potentially millions.
2. Place one or more spending proposals on the April 20th ballot to offset lost state aid. Such question(s) would be in addition to a base budget and would also increase the tax levy beyond the 4% state cap. However, in order for such a strategy to be a go, it needs approval from Somerset County Schools Superintendent, Trudy Doyle. We’re still talking potentially millions.
3. Employ a combination of the first two approaches.
4. Don’t alter the proposed budget. It already includes $8.8M in reductions. Lock in the school tax increase at 4%, the state cap. This means more expense reductions, a wage freeze or other cuts to cover the last round of state aid cuts.
The practical effect of implementing any of the first three options is clear: Bridgewater and Raritan residents would, in effect, be asked on April 20th to increase their own tax bills beyond 4% to pay for additional state-imposed cuts in aid.
Just before the public came to the mike last night, a straw poll of board members indicated that the 9-member body was equally split over how to proceed with these alternatives, with one board member expressing no opinion. A decision needs to be made next week.
Next Post: Simmering resentment over wage hikes.
At issue was whether to swallow the entire amount while keeping the tax levy at its current state-mandated 4% cap, or to implement one or more options presented by Superintendent Michael Schilder.
The options are no panacea, and it’s important for residents to understand what they are, how they work, and what their implications are upon the Bridgewater-Raritan real estate tax levy:
1. The Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education can legally invoke an automatic waiver to offset state aid reductions. The cost would be built into the budget and would increase the tax levy beyond the present 4%. This requires no state or county approval and could be implemented next week by the B-R BOE to offset all or a portion of state aid cuts, if the board chose to. Voters would cast their yes or no vote for this in April. We’re talking potentially millions.
2. Place one or more spending proposals on the April 20th ballot to offset lost state aid. Such question(s) would be in addition to a base budget and would also increase the tax levy beyond the 4% state cap. However, in order for such a strategy to be a go, it needs approval from Somerset County Schools Superintendent, Trudy Doyle. We’re still talking potentially millions.
3. Employ a combination of the first two approaches.
4. Don’t alter the proposed budget. It already includes $8.8M in reductions. Lock in the school tax increase at 4%, the state cap. This means more expense reductions, a wage freeze or other cuts to cover the last round of state aid cuts.
The practical effect of implementing any of the first three options is clear: Bridgewater and Raritan residents would, in effect, be asked on April 20th to increase their own tax bills beyond 4% to pay for additional state-imposed cuts in aid.
Just before the public came to the mike last night, a straw poll of board members indicated that the 9-member body was equally split over how to proceed with these alternatives, with one board member expressing no opinion. A decision needs to be made next week.
Next Post: Simmering resentment over wage hikes.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
B-R Schools to Incur Additional $4.4 Million Budget Hit
Today, Governor Christie’s administration announced the last round of cuts in state aid to New Jersey school districts for the 2010/2011 school year beginning July 1st, 2010. Consequently, the Bridgewater-Raritan School District was notified that it will incur another reduction in state aid of $4.4 million, on top of previous cuts.
Tonight, 8:00 PM, at the John F. Kennedy School in Raritan the B-R BOE and administration will present another pared-down version of the budget. None of the previous presentations to the public – the latest of which was on February 23rd – provide room for a reduction as steep as those necessitated by the State of New Jersey’s cuts announced today.
I expect a very large turnout of Bridgewater-Raritan residents and a big group of staff and union representation. The February 23rd meeting was standing-room only.
Jeffrey Brookner, President of the B-R BOE had sent letters previously asking all bargaining units, including those representing teachers, principals and supervisors to re-open contract negotiations. The purpose was to reduce or rescind the 4.35% pay raises included in the proposed 2010/2011 school budget now under stress. Total wage increases are reported to be worth $2.7 million.
To date, no information has been made public about the responses of those bargaining units to Mr. Brookner’s request. The only concessions made so far have been from a small group of non-bargaining administration officials to reduce their pay raises by 2%, or about $60,000 in total.
As of this writing, the impact on Bridgewater and Raritan real estate tax levies is uncertain. However, at the time of the latest budget draft on the 23rd, the combined tax levy for both municipalities was still going up by 4%, the maximum allowed by New Jersey law.
Tonight, 8:00 PM, at the John F. Kennedy School in Raritan the B-R BOE and administration will present another pared-down version of the budget. None of the previous presentations to the public – the latest of which was on February 23rd – provide room for a reduction as steep as those necessitated by the State of New Jersey’s cuts announced today.
I expect a very large turnout of Bridgewater-Raritan residents and a big group of staff and union representation. The February 23rd meeting was standing-room only.
Jeffrey Brookner, President of the B-R BOE had sent letters previously asking all bargaining units, including those representing teachers, principals and supervisors to re-open contract negotiations. The purpose was to reduce or rescind the 4.35% pay raises included in the proposed 2010/2011 school budget now under stress. Total wage increases are reported to be worth $2.7 million.
To date, no information has been made public about the responses of those bargaining units to Mr. Brookner’s request. The only concessions made so far have been from a small group of non-bargaining administration officials to reduce their pay raises by 2%, or about $60,000 in total.
As of this writing, the impact on Bridgewater and Raritan real estate tax levies is uncertain. However, at the time of the latest budget draft on the 23rd, the combined tax levy for both municipalities was still going up by 4%, the maximum allowed by New Jersey law.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Counting Chickens too soon
When Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts defeated Democrat Martha Coakley, a presumed shoe-in for Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat, there was much glee among the GOP that the newly-minted Senator Brown would provide the filibuster-proof incremental Senate vote required to prevent President Barack Obama from passing his health care bill.
Democrats were downcast and Republicans were jubilant.
In this blog, on January 19th (check the archives) I wrote: “Logically, this defeat should shock Mr. Obama into workable bi-partisanship. But don’t bet the farm on it: He and his chief advisors can be expected to hunker down even more now, and to railroad the legislation through the Congress. Hope I’m wrong about that.”
It looks as though I may not have been far off the mark. Earlier today, President Barack Obama was on the stump in Ohio, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi claimed to have the necessary votes required to pass the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives this week.
Somebody is counting chickens too soon, and we won’t know who won until a few necks have been twisted and the meat is served up on the table for dinner.
As my Mom was always wont to remind me with one of her many aphorisms of advice, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.” (Cat lovers: Don’t be offended, it was an innocent time for me in my Bay State hometown way back when.)
Democrats were downcast and Republicans were jubilant.
In this blog, on January 19th (check the archives) I wrote: “Logically, this defeat should shock Mr. Obama into workable bi-partisanship. But don’t bet the farm on it: He and his chief advisors can be expected to hunker down even more now, and to railroad the legislation through the Congress. Hope I’m wrong about that.”
It looks as though I may not have been far off the mark. Earlier today, President Barack Obama was on the stump in Ohio, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi claimed to have the necessary votes required to pass the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives this week.
Somebody is counting chickens too soon, and we won’t know who won until a few necks have been twisted and the meat is served up on the table for dinner.
As my Mom was always wont to remind me with one of her many aphorisms of advice, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.” (Cat lovers: Don’t be offended, it was an innocent time for me in my Bay State hometown way back when.)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The Bridgewater-Raritan School District Budget Conundrum
The main thing about the Bridgewater-Raritan school budget surprise is that it is a surprise at all. It’s been clear for at least several years that the situation was building up to crisis level, but few were paying attention – perhaps few wanted to.
I don’t blame anyone in particular for this. Everyone in Bridgewater and Raritan wants the best educational system possible – I don’t doubt that. But there is a cost to everything. Sometimes that cost simply gets too high or, as in this case, it grows beyond the ability of people to pay. The national and state financial crises have focused Americans upon that fact in a way that nothing else could.
Some have attributed the fault in this school district’s budget shortfall to Governor Chris Christie, because he recently withheld $4 million anticipated by the B-R School District as part of $475M in state aid for all other districts. But placing the onus on Christie is a fool’s game – the problem is very big, pervasive, and structural. It needs a major fix.
Still, there is no doubt in my mind that, over the years, the B-R School District has been adversely shortchanged by a succession of administrations in Trenton; as well as by the Education Law Center which successfully convinced the New Jersey Supreme Court to siphon disproportionate amounts of cash to the Abbott Districts.
There is nothing we can do to change the past. But we can learn from it. Governor Christie is not the bogeyman in this game. He may be the one person that New Jersey has who can give this state the medicine that it needs.
Thanks for reading. Stay engaged.
I don’t blame anyone in particular for this. Everyone in Bridgewater and Raritan wants the best educational system possible – I don’t doubt that. But there is a cost to everything. Sometimes that cost simply gets too high or, as in this case, it grows beyond the ability of people to pay. The national and state financial crises have focused Americans upon that fact in a way that nothing else could.
Some have attributed the fault in this school district’s budget shortfall to Governor Chris Christie, because he recently withheld $4 million anticipated by the B-R School District as part of $475M in state aid for all other districts. But placing the onus on Christie is a fool’s game – the problem is very big, pervasive, and structural. It needs a major fix.
Still, there is no doubt in my mind that, over the years, the B-R School District has been adversely shortchanged by a succession of administrations in Trenton; as well as by the Education Law Center which successfully convinced the New Jersey Supreme Court to siphon disproportionate amounts of cash to the Abbott Districts.
There is nothing we can do to change the past. But we can learn from it. Governor Christie is not the bogeyman in this game. He may be the one person that New Jersey has who can give this state the medicine that it needs.
Thanks for reading. Stay engaged.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Bridgewater-Raritan School Budget Arithmetic
Even with my background, I find that one of the hardest things to do is to try to absorb all of the intricacies of a school budget presentation. I find that to be especially true when my first exposure is to observe a 19-page PowerPoint pitch which summarizes the impact of a larger 59-page detailed budget handout.
I’m not complaining. The administration has done its best to present data in a very short period of time, one which of necessity does not permit the listener to ask questions as the presenter is speaking. Although there is a 5-minute opportunity to ask questions later in the open-to-the-public portion of the meeting, that’s hardly enough. Besides, the atmosphere in this school district at the moment is very much emotionally charged.
With that as a caveat, let me do my best to summarize my understanding of where the district finds itself financially, and what the impact is on your pocketbook.
In December, 2009, the B-R BOE voted to accept a preliminary budget of $136.9 million for the school year beginning July 1, 2010. As I mentioned in one of my prior blog posts, this number rarely changes and is usually presented to the public in the following April’s school election as is. Not this year. Enter Chris Christie as our new governor. He is determined to close a state budget gap.
Christie cancelled $4M of anticipated state aid to this district. (Ouch, that hurts!): A frenetic scramble began to lower expenses. In the first round of cuts on February 23rd, the B-R BOE sliced $2M from the budget by reducing expenses and by pulling back surplus funds that had been allocated to the 2011/2012 school year’s budget: Pouf! Gone, just like that.
Tuesday evening, at the JFK School in Raritan, the board announced a second round of $2.4M in cuts, resulting in a total reduction of $4.4M so far. This drops the current proposed budget expenditures to $132.5M, a 0.51% reduction (one-half of one percent) from last year’s actual school expenditures of $133.2M.
According to Michael Schilder and Peter Starrs this is the first time that there has been an expense reduction to total B-R school expenses since at least 1992/93.
You might think that an expense budget lower than last year’s would result in a reduction to your real estate bill in Bridgewater and Raritan. But hold on. Your taxes are still going up. The total tax levy is increasing from last year’s $113.4M assessment to $117.9M, a 4% increase, the maximum permitted under New Jersey law. This means that your tax rate per $100 of assessed value will go up by 5.2% to $1.22 if you live in Bridgewater; and, by 3.3% to $1.27 if you live in Raritan.
Why? State aid for Bridgewater-Raritan is $9.9M for 2010/2011, higher even than last year’s state aid distribution of $8.7M. However, according to numbers presented last night, the B-R BOE School District was banking on $12.3M in state aid, as it built the first draft of the 2010/2011 budget. Therefore, despite expense levels close to those of last year, it would take further cuts to offset wage increases and lost state aid.
Presumably, I haven’t bored you with numbers. Remember: every dollar of reductions in this budget has in some way affected a BR-BOE employee. Thanks for reading and remain engaged.
I’m not complaining. The administration has done its best to present data in a very short period of time, one which of necessity does not permit the listener to ask questions as the presenter is speaking. Although there is a 5-minute opportunity to ask questions later in the open-to-the-public portion of the meeting, that’s hardly enough. Besides, the atmosphere in this school district at the moment is very much emotionally charged.
With that as a caveat, let me do my best to summarize my understanding of where the district finds itself financially, and what the impact is on your pocketbook.
In December, 2009, the B-R BOE voted to accept a preliminary budget of $136.9 million for the school year beginning July 1, 2010. As I mentioned in one of my prior blog posts, this number rarely changes and is usually presented to the public in the following April’s school election as is. Not this year. Enter Chris Christie as our new governor. He is determined to close a state budget gap.
Christie cancelled $4M of anticipated state aid to this district. (Ouch, that hurts!): A frenetic scramble began to lower expenses. In the first round of cuts on February 23rd, the B-R BOE sliced $2M from the budget by reducing expenses and by pulling back surplus funds that had been allocated to the 2011/2012 school year’s budget: Pouf! Gone, just like that.
Tuesday evening, at the JFK School in Raritan, the board announced a second round of $2.4M in cuts, resulting in a total reduction of $4.4M so far. This drops the current proposed budget expenditures to $132.5M, a 0.51% reduction (one-half of one percent) from last year’s actual school expenditures of $133.2M.
According to Michael Schilder and Peter Starrs this is the first time that there has been an expense reduction to total B-R school expenses since at least 1992/93.
You might think that an expense budget lower than last year’s would result in a reduction to your real estate bill in Bridgewater and Raritan. But hold on. Your taxes are still going up. The total tax levy is increasing from last year’s $113.4M assessment to $117.9M, a 4% increase, the maximum permitted under New Jersey law. This means that your tax rate per $100 of assessed value will go up by 5.2% to $1.22 if you live in Bridgewater; and, by 3.3% to $1.27 if you live in Raritan.
Why? State aid for Bridgewater-Raritan is $9.9M for 2010/2011, higher even than last year’s state aid distribution of $8.7M. However, according to numbers presented last night, the B-R BOE School District was banking on $12.3M in state aid, as it built the first draft of the 2010/2011 budget. Therefore, despite expense levels close to those of last year, it would take further cuts to offset wage increases and lost state aid.
Presumably, I haven’t bored you with numbers. Remember: every dollar of reductions in this budget has in some way affected a BR-BOE employee. Thanks for reading and remain engaged.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Contrast in Two Local School Districts
The newspaper excerpts in this post, the first concerning the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education, and the second about the Franklin Township Board of Education present two very stark approaches to public access in the current school budget discussions.
The issue in question is the extent to which the public should or should not be able to sit in and listen to deliberations of board members concerning the very real problem of trimming down the school budget for the next school year. Bridgewater-Raritan chose one approach. Franklin Township chose another, very different one.
At the beginning of March, Kara Richardson reported in the Courier News that the B-R BOE’s “Finance Committee will meet in a closed session (emphasis mine) today (Tuesday) to discuss how to shave another $2.4 million from the budget.”
That committee, which consists of three board members, is chaired by Lynne Hurley and includes Pat Breslin and Anda Cytroen; with Al Smith as the alternate should one of the others not be able to make a meeting.
Bridgewater-Raritan School Superintendent Michael Schilder and Peter Starrs, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary are usually expected to participate at such committee meetings.
In contrast, the Franklin Township Board of Education chose to take a completely open approach to discussing its cuts totaling about $7 million:
Today in the Courier News print edition, Mary Ann Bourbeau reported that Shirley Pietrucha, President of the Franklin Board of Education said “The board’s finance committee has expanded to the board as a whole, so all of the board members will be present at the budget workshop. As a result, the workshop will open to the public, (emphasis mine) but public comment only will be permitted during the first 30 minutes.”
Good for you, Franklin Township.
I’ve always been a strong proponent of having as many committee meetings and full board meetings as possible open to the public. Usually, though, boards of education tend to interpret New Jersey’s Sunshine Law (the Open Public Meetings Act) in a far too restrictive manner, thereby shutting out the public from the scope and content of its deliberations.
The issue in question is the extent to which the public should or should not be able to sit in and listen to deliberations of board members concerning the very real problem of trimming down the school budget for the next school year. Bridgewater-Raritan chose one approach. Franklin Township chose another, very different one.
At the beginning of March, Kara Richardson reported in the Courier News that the B-R BOE’s “Finance Committee will meet in a closed session (emphasis mine) today (Tuesday) to discuss how to shave another $2.4 million from the budget.”
That committee, which consists of three board members, is chaired by Lynne Hurley and includes Pat Breslin and Anda Cytroen; with Al Smith as the alternate should one of the others not be able to make a meeting.
Bridgewater-Raritan School Superintendent Michael Schilder and Peter Starrs, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary are usually expected to participate at such committee meetings.
In contrast, the Franklin Township Board of Education chose to take a completely open approach to discussing its cuts totaling about $7 million:
Today in the Courier News print edition, Mary Ann Bourbeau reported that Shirley Pietrucha, President of the Franklin Board of Education said “The board’s finance committee has expanded to the board as a whole, so all of the board members will be present at the budget workshop. As a result, the workshop will open to the public, (emphasis mine) but public comment only will be permitted during the first 30 minutes.”
Good for you, Franklin Township.
I’ve always been a strong proponent of having as many committee meetings and full board meetings as possible open to the public. Usually, though, boards of education tend to interpret New Jersey’s Sunshine Law (the Open Public Meetings Act) in a far too restrictive manner, thereby shutting out the public from the scope and content of its deliberations.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Zuckerman Excoriates Obama
I must share with you, faithful readers, that I was stunned when I heard and read the criticism of Barack Obama by Mort Zuckerman, publisher of the New York Daily News, and editor-in chief of US News & World Report.
Zuckerman is one of several very wealthy and influential Americans who publicly supported the candidacy of Barack Obama and his rise to the presidency of this country. But Mr. Zuckerman has since articulated a reversal of position, primarily due to the Obama administration’s bungling of the priority and effectiveness of its policy initiatives.
I, your blogger of modest means, am one of many who did not support Mr. Obama from the very onset of his campaign.
Nevertheless, while disagreeing, I respected the view of those who advanced logical reasons for Obama’s candidacy (excluding, of course, the ones who seemed to have raised him to the status of deity – that is anything but logical).
In a radio interview yesterday, to which I tuned in on my way back home from laps at the JCC, Mr. Zuckerman verbally took the president to the woodshed, using phrases such as, “He has worn out his welcome . . . diminished his credibility. He is (now) more of a politician, less of a leader. He hasn’t focused on what is by far the greatest problem, the economy . . . . (he has spent) too much time on health care . . . (there is) too much debt in the long term." On it went.
That criticism is in character with several full length articles which Zuckerman wrote: One of them can be found at U.S. News & World Report entitled “The Incredible Deflation of Barack Obama.”
Mort Zuckerman is (as certainly am I) very dissatisfied with Obama’s performance. In his column, he writes of Obama, “His promiscuity on TV has made him seem as if he is still a candidate instead of president and commander-in-chief.” Powerful words indeed, and Zuckerman has more where those came from.
Zuckerman is one of several very wealthy and influential Americans who publicly supported the candidacy of Barack Obama and his rise to the presidency of this country. But Mr. Zuckerman has since articulated a reversal of position, primarily due to the Obama administration’s bungling of the priority and effectiveness of its policy initiatives.
I, your blogger of modest means, am one of many who did not support Mr. Obama from the very onset of his campaign.
Nevertheless, while disagreeing, I respected the view of those who advanced logical reasons for Obama’s candidacy (excluding, of course, the ones who seemed to have raised him to the status of deity – that is anything but logical).
In a radio interview yesterday, to which I tuned in on my way back home from laps at the JCC, Mr. Zuckerman verbally took the president to the woodshed, using phrases such as, “He has worn out his welcome . . . diminished his credibility. He is (now) more of a politician, less of a leader. He hasn’t focused on what is by far the greatest problem, the economy . . . . (he has spent) too much time on health care . . . (there is) too much debt in the long term." On it went.
That criticism is in character with several full length articles which Zuckerman wrote: One of them can be found at U.S. News & World Report entitled “The Incredible Deflation of Barack Obama.”
Mort Zuckerman is (as certainly am I) very dissatisfied with Obama’s performance. In his column, he writes of Obama, “His promiscuity on TV has made him seem as if he is still a candidate instead of president and commander-in-chief.” Powerful words indeed, and Zuckerman has more where those came from.
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