“I want to vote on the budget. It has a huge impact on my life. The grand plans for the library and high school are proof that we need fiscal oversight. It is my money.
I lived in Ridgewood before and after having children in the schools. I have downsized but I regret staying. The village has become nothing but a wish list for developers and short term residents.
Young buyers cannot afford and do not want big houses. Homes over $1 million are not moving. After renovations by homeowners many of these homes are still selling for less that what they were bought for 15-20 years ago. Realtors (who make a good living off us) should be honest about this. They will list a home and then push for never ending price cuts. They get paid either way.
Many high end homeowners have had reevaluations to lower their taxes. When the village has it’s next town-wide tax reevaluation we will all pay for the decline in high-end home values. The village expense pie will be divided and the under $1 million taxes will go up. It’s not “just the cost of a Starbucks every day”.”
I want to continue to vote as well. The bigger problem is when we vote down a ridiculously inflated budget, they make a minor tweak and still ram it down our throats. It’s happened the few times we dared say no.