On April 21st, Bridgewater and Raritan residents are scheduled to vote on the school budget. Unless changes are made, that budget will rise by $4.5 million to $133.3 million, a 3.5% increase.
The B-R Board of Education and its Administration may remind you that this is the lowest percent increase in seven years. What they may not emphasize is that the $4.5 million hike occurs as school enrollment has slowly and steadily decreased from 9,197 students in 2006 to an expected 9,128 students in the fall of 2009.
Meanwhile, other governmental entities are also struggling with budgets – at least one with better results. The Somerset County freeholders are decreasing spending by 2.6%, from $220.2 million last year, to a proposed $214.4 million – no increase in your taxes from this source. In Bridgewater, the Mayor and the Township Council anticipate a drop in state aid of $327,154, a 4% decline from last year. Raritan will see its aid drop by $21,352.
Out of 40 school districts in Somerset and Hunterdon counties, only one in four is seeing any increase at all. The B-R School District is one of the lucky few to receive a $573,141 (5%) increase, for a total of $12 million, or 9% of next year’s budget. How would you like to have someone pay 9% of your annual expenses?
The money well in Trenton is drying up, and the B-R School District has done a less than stellar job of linking its budgets to the economic conditions that the rest of us have had to deal with each year and every day. The B-R School Board needs to envision its role much more holistically: It is merely one among other legitimate claimants to the resources of the residents of Bridgewater and Raritan.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
School Superintendent Takes no Salary Increase
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.
In coming weeks, you will soon hear more about the multi-million dollar increase for the Bridgewater-Raritan School District budget. Several individual Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education members have publicly stated on the record that they would lobby for its passage and would work with individuals and special interest groups towards that end.
Unless New Jersey’s state law regulating such activity has been altered, it’s illegal for an administrator or for a school board member to lobby for the passage of a school budget or to work with individuals and groups, either publicly or behind the scenes, for that purpose.
Dr. Schilder, who gave a presentation of the Bridgewater-Raritan School budget about a month ago in front of a large audience, knows that. In his presentation, he was meticulously careful not to outwardly solicit support for the budget, only that he was hoping for a good voter turnout.
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.
In coming weeks, you will soon hear more about the multi-million dollar increase for the Bridgewater-Raritan School District budget. Several individual Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education members have publicly stated on the record that they would lobby for its passage and would work with individuals and special interest groups towards that end.
Unless New Jersey’s state law regulating such activity has been altered, it’s illegal for an administrator or for a school board member to lobby for the passage of a school budget or to work with individuals and groups, either publicly or behind the scenes, for that purpose.
Dr. Schilder, who gave a presentation of the Bridgewater-Raritan School budget about a month ago in front of a large audience, knows that. In his presentation, he was meticulously careful not to outwardly solicit support for the budget, only that he was hoping for a good voter turnout.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
From Italy, with Love
On the ground floor of the Bridgewater Commons Mall, I’d been noticing lately the partitioning of a large square area in between the two up and down escalators near the atrium. Recent progress reveals that a new Italian specialty eatery, Mamma che Buono, is coming to town at this spot.
Not only that, but it looks like the business is authentically Italian. The headquarters for Mamma che Buono is in Milan. The company has a U.S. location in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Bridgewater is scheduled as one of three other U.S. sites opening soon. The other two are in Wellington, Fla., and Queens, NY.
Even the crates holding the new fixtures read, “Made in Italy.” Warms your heart, doesn’t it, to know that not everything coming into the U.S. bears the “Made in China” marking?
Also expect to see an expanded Starbucks just one escalator ramp up from Mamma che Buono. The work is already under way behind floor-to-ceiling enclosures, despite the fact that the company is closing stores in other locations and modifying its line-up.
Looks like there’s always room for an Italian delicacy and a fancy cup of joe in Bridgewater.
Nota Bene: You can view a jivy Italian language You Tube video about Mamma che Buono at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5645ZN29OB4. There is also an excellent Italian language blog dedicated to Mamma che Buono, complete with recipes and photos at http://mammachebuono.blogspot.com/
Not only that, but it looks like the business is authentically Italian. The headquarters for Mamma che Buono is in Milan. The company has a U.S. location in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Bridgewater is scheduled as one of three other U.S. sites opening soon. The other two are in Wellington, Fla., and Queens, NY.
Even the crates holding the new fixtures read, “Made in Italy.” Warms your heart, doesn’t it, to know that not everything coming into the U.S. bears the “Made in China” marking?
Also expect to see an expanded Starbucks just one escalator ramp up from Mamma che Buono. The work is already under way behind floor-to-ceiling enclosures, despite the fact that the company is closing stores in other locations and modifying its line-up.
Looks like there’s always room for an Italian delicacy and a fancy cup of joe in Bridgewater.
Nota Bene: You can view a jivy Italian language You Tube video about Mamma che Buono at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5645ZN29OB4. There is also an excellent Italian language blog dedicated to Mamma che Buono, complete with recipes and photos at http://mammachebuono.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Healthcare & You: Not So Perfect Together!
Monday, before a congressional panel, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner commented that “Healthcare costs are crippling the economy and that the U.S. is paying twice what other countries are paying.” He went on to declare that Americans are not being delivered “a quality kind of healthcare in this country,” and that we “need to reduce healthcare costs.”
Let’s get this straight: Healthcare costs are crippling the economy? I thought that the economy was already comatose due to the dastardly deeds of certain slipshod financiers, bankers, Washington politicians, and borrowers who should have known better.
Didn’t you?
For years, the word from D.C. was that it would take billions to provide the same level of quality healthcare to Americans across the board. Just couldn’t be done. Too expensive, they said. It was seen as anathema and, apparently, still is by President Obama who is using Geithner as his proxy to convince Congress that payments to health care providers need to be reduced.
Let me pinch myself again: The Secretary of the Treasury and the President both say it’s OK to dole out billions – soon to be trillions – to heal the self-inflicted wounds of the financial system’s largest participants now feeding at the trough of the U.S. Treasury.
But, according to Geithner and Obama, it’s a transgression – a grave one indeed – to provide excellence in healthcare without cutting payments to the highly talented medical professionals and institutions that provide those services.
One more thing: Why is Congress permitting Geithner to testify alone, without a countervailing, expert voice from the medical profession?
Let’s get this straight: Healthcare costs are crippling the economy? I thought that the economy was already comatose due to the dastardly deeds of certain slipshod financiers, bankers, Washington politicians, and borrowers who should have known better.
Didn’t you?
For years, the word from D.C. was that it would take billions to provide the same level of quality healthcare to Americans across the board. Just couldn’t be done. Too expensive, they said. It was seen as anathema and, apparently, still is by President Obama who is using Geithner as his proxy to convince Congress that payments to health care providers need to be reduced.
Let me pinch myself again: The Secretary of the Treasury and the President both say it’s OK to dole out billions – soon to be trillions – to heal the self-inflicted wounds of the financial system’s largest participants now feeding at the trough of the U.S. Treasury.
But, according to Geithner and Obama, it’s a transgression – a grave one indeed – to provide excellence in healthcare without cutting payments to the highly talented medical professionals and institutions that provide those services.
One more thing: Why is Congress permitting Geithner to testify alone, without a countervailing, expert voice from the medical profession?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Bridgewater in Recession: Food, Drink, & Chocolate
In severe economic times, people cope with the associated stress in many ways. It’s been reported that during the Great Depression of the 1930’s – a time without TV – movie theatres played host to large audiences. So did taverns.
Although the Bridgewater area may not have been hit as hard as other parts of the country where mind-numbing pools of layoffs have plagued the manufacturing sector, it’s still bad enough. Financial institutions in New Jersey and New York are laying off tons of workers.
If messages emanating from the White House are to be taken seriously, “...it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” As if it takes a President to remind us of what we already know!
My own anecdotal observation of how some people are coping in this anemic economic climate is simple: People just want to get away from it. One method is to soothe ourselves as best we can. In Bridgewater, a Sunday afternoon trip to the Bridgewater Commons Mall seems to confirm that.
On an off-season Sunday shopping day, the most crowded spot was the third level of the newly-renovated food court. Every concession was taking orders and dishing out the eats, as patrons waited their turn in long lines.
Down below, at ground level near the atrium, each of the four stations of the Massage Mob concession was taken: Customers were getting the stress kneaded out of their muscles.
Next: chocolate. It seems that people also resort to that luscious confection in times like these. Did you know that Hershey’s has increased its sales and profits for both the fourth quarter and full year of 2008?
The company is also projecting a modest sales increase for 2009. Gone are the 99¢ promotions for a 4.25 ounce bar of Hershey’s Dark Chocolate at CVS. It’s now selling for a steady $1.99. Please, CVS, make a liar out of me.
Although the Bridgewater area may not have been hit as hard as other parts of the country where mind-numbing pools of layoffs have plagued the manufacturing sector, it’s still bad enough. Financial institutions in New Jersey and New York are laying off tons of workers.
If messages emanating from the White House are to be taken seriously, “...it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” As if it takes a President to remind us of what we already know!
My own anecdotal observation of how some people are coping in this anemic economic climate is simple: People just want to get away from it. One method is to soothe ourselves as best we can. In Bridgewater, a Sunday afternoon trip to the Bridgewater Commons Mall seems to confirm that.
On an off-season Sunday shopping day, the most crowded spot was the third level of the newly-renovated food court. Every concession was taking orders and dishing out the eats, as patrons waited their turn in long lines.
Down below, at ground level near the atrium, each of the four stations of the Massage Mob concession was taken: Customers were getting the stress kneaded out of their muscles.
Next: chocolate. It seems that people also resort to that luscious confection in times like these. Did you know that Hershey’s has increased its sales and profits for both the fourth quarter and full year of 2008?
The company is also projecting a modest sales increase for 2009. Gone are the 99¢ promotions for a 4.25 ounce bar of Hershey’s Dark Chocolate at CVS. It’s now selling for a steady $1.99. Please, CVS, make a liar out of me.
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