Is Your Tax Bill Funding Students or Bureaucracy? The Ridgewood School Budget Crisis
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood residents are facing a frustrating reality: school taxes are climbing, yet the classroom experience is being stretched thin. As the Board of Education (BoE) prepares for a pivotal vote this Monday, May 4th, many in the community are asking if the current 4% tax levy is truly necessary—or if it’s the result of a system that has lost its checks and balances.
The “Sneaky” Shift in Budget Control
For years, Ridgewood voters had a direct say in the school budget. By moving school board elections to the general election cycle, the town aimed for higher turnout and cost savings. However, a significant side effect emerged: the public no longer votes directly on the school budget. Without the accountability of a ballot box, the Board now holds unilateral power over how your tax dollars are spent. Is this “taxation without representation,” or simply a move for efficiency that backfired on the taxpayer?
Teachers Out, Administrators In?
The most alarming detail of the proposed budget involves where the cuts are falling. While the central office is reportedly only seeing two administrative positions eliminated, the teaching staff is facing a much steeper decline.
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11 Teaching Positions: Slated for elimination (pending final BoE confirmation).
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2 Administrative Positions: Targeted for cuts.
When we prioritize the “central office” over the classroom, the impact is felt immediately by students through increased class sizes and diminished program offerings.
A Call for Financial Shared Sacrifice
If the district is in a fiscal “crunch,” shouldn’t the leadership lead by example? Community members are calling for the Board to explore salary freezes for the Superintendent and the senior leadership team. Across the country, districts facing similar constraints have used leadership salary freezes to protect student programs and prevent layoffs. Why isn’t Ridgewood doing the same?
How to Take Action Before Monday’s Vote
The Board of Education needs to hear from you before the May 4th meeting. Whether you join via Zoom or show up in person, now is the time to demand transparency.
Key Questions for the Board:
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Can you confirm the exact number of teaching positions being cut?
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Is a 4% tax levy the absolute minimum required, or have all administrative cost-saving measures (like salary freezes) been exhausted?
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How will these cuts specifically affect class sizes for the upcoming year?
Contact the Board Today:
Your voice is the only remaining “vote” you have. Email the members below to voice your concerns:
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Dr. Mark Schwarz (Superintendent): mschwarz@rpsnj.us
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Board Members: sbrogan@rpsnj.us, sdani@rpsnj.us, mmicale@rpsnj.us, mmahmoud@rpsnj.us, mhandy@rpsnj.us
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Healthcare costs and a bloated administration.
Nero fiddled while Rome burned.
Woke, liberal board of ed is a disgrace
Lesson #1 from “On Tyranny”: do not obey in advance.
The BoE is now in the centralizing stage, supporting their own political agenda. Forcing students and families to comply.
There’s enough evidence in the past. Watch what happens in the near future as BoE members become funded by their Paterson partners and big political donors.
This makes no sense. The budget vote was only to cut the budget not to specify where money is spent. The residents clearly want more spent on school not less. The budget vote could only ever limit the budget not increase it.
Not clear at all that all residents want more spending. The vote was the only way to slow down the juggernaut
So are you saying taxes will go up 4% based on my assessed value of our homes and this in addition to what the muni taxes went up. Oh and new assessments will most likely increase also, so s double whammy…. Time to move, less will be spent down town so more stores closing. Oh but it doesn’t matter we are the wellness town of America. Sigh
*also BeeTown USA
The over inflated school budgets are insane. Does anyone really look into how this money is being spent? Oh the budget will never go down ; even if they don’t “need” the money it’s going to be spent anyway on anything so they don’t get less the following year….
That was the stupidest thing people can do you never give up that kind of power, especially in Ridgewood
I guess they really are rich and stupid!
Once again the BS of One Village One Vote
Ridgewood residents have only themselves to blame for ever trusting the likes of Siobhan Crann Winograd
and company
What are their names?
Say their names
Bob Fuhrman
Matthew Lindenberg
Stacey Loscalzo
Deborah Steinbaum
Siobhan Crann Winograd
If there are really a majority of people who disagree with this direction, it should be easy to elect a different candidate to the BOE who’s point of view lines up.