
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to Steve Kim ,”Ridgewood School’s debt limit is $256 million.”
Kim says, “If the $70 million referendum is passed, we will be nearly halfway there. Ridgewood will then become one of the most indebted in NJ, and there are many operating repercussions that come with excessive debt – none positive.
“The operating pattern under Dr.Fishbein has been to pile more debt every decade. That would mean hitting the debt limit at some point in the future.
We may not be here to see that happen. However, we should do our best to keep the system as high quality and as sustainable as we found it. Passing a kitchen sink referendum will not be a good step towards that goal.”

Someone said he doesn’t use the rw schools or library, or the train station, or join or volunteer for committees……
someone ??
Massive Debt is Good, Said No one Ever!
Jeeeeeez!!!
If passed, property taxes will go up 10%. But hey, at least our little angels will have redundant boilers, you know in case the other two break.
Just say no. The BOE is such a slippery bunch aren’t they?
Denise (?): “Someone said he doesn’t use the rw schools or library, or the train station, or join or volunteer for committees……”
Steve: I pay Ridgewood tax.
You don’t need to look far (just over the state line in NY) to see the damage done when school boards are taken over by the agenda of people that don’t use the schools. It just comes down to incentives: people that don’t use the schools are incented to drive down school taxes so they don’t have to pay for education twice. Taxpayers always deserve a voice, but giving outsized attention to one voice incented to underpay for school services seems short sighted.
Good way to drive up taxes and therefore drive down housing prices… Who wants to pay $1-2k per month to basically have the trash picked up if they don’t even have kids in school. People will eventually move out of Ridgewood as an open checkbook approach is irresponsible for those who would like to stay in the community but can’t justify continuing increases to already excessively high taxes.
Massively unsubstantiated generalization: “You don’t need to look far (just over the state line in NY) to see the damage done when school boards are taken over by the agenda of people that don’t use the schools. It just comes down to incentives: people that don’t use the schools are incented to drive down school taxes so they don’t have to pay for education twice. Taxpayers always deserve a voice, but giving outsized attention to one voice incented to underpay for school services seems short sighted.”
Can’t be more wrong Anon.
My goal is to channel more $ to go towards education rather than on unnecessary debt service. Look at relevant facts and data. Look at how the system works. Then draw your conclusion. Be brave: sign your name to what you write 😉
This is the problem when you have temporary residents.
They move here for 10 years, vote yes on every school budget then bail out and move back to NYC when the last rug-rat graduates RHS
“This is the problem when you have temporary residents.
They move here for 10 years, vote yes on every school budget then bail out and move back to NYC when the last rug-rat graduates RHS”
250 high density units won’t help… what a debacle that will be.
Who the heck listens to Steve Kim besides The Blog? No one! Next
Steve uses math, many people also still use math
More deep thoughts by James.
not deep just simple
We will find out in April and May who listens to Steve.
Also, in case the council approved library bond, then also we will find out that who listens to him. Low turnout in latest general assembly polls has made his job easy to make his case through voter initiative.
It’s all good, ‘cuz….
…
>b>We’re RICH and STUPID
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