the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, When Ridgewood schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, most parents assumed they would reopen in a matter of weeks.Instead, schools across the country have remained closed and will likely remain closed for the rest of the academic year.
Parents deserve a refund, argues Lindsey Burke Ph.D. Director, Center for Education Policy:
“K-12 school districts…have made a promise to families; namely, that in exchange for significant property tax payments, sales tax charges, bond referenda, and income tax duties, they would provide an education to their children. Too many districts are failing to uphold their end of that contractual obligation. Families should immediately be provided with a refund—a prorated portion of the money that would have been spent by the state in which they reside and by their local school district from the beginning of March through the end of the school year.”
Yes they should. Village managers must put this up for a referendum. And I say this not because I feel teachers and school admins not doing their job during a lockdown, which is outside of their control.
Rather, my concern is that we as a society became so soft, we’re willing to put up with our tax dollars being consistently mismanaged and wasted. We as taxpayers need new mechanisms to protect our interests. It’s very clear that neither state managers nor Ridgewood’s BOE / admins consider accountability to the taxpayer a priority anymore.
In a private sector shareholders remind staff they hire who is in charge by cutting bonuses and paying employees off. It’s about time we’ve trimmed abysmal amount of fat accumulated in the village, starting with schools.
The bigger (more expensive) question is should all downtown building owners get a property tax refund? The income potential from their buildings was reduced because of Government action. Seems fair to me that they should not have to pay taxes based on the buildings’ previous values.
When they raise municipal and BOE taxes 10% next year to pay fur alm this crap, will the rescind the tax increase the following year as a temporary increase only?
Hint: look at what’s happened since they increase the gasoline tax.
NJ’s finances and the Village’s finances are a shambles and this Village Council (Hache, Knudsen, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh) has only made it FAR, FAR worse.
Hache has been completely useless. Happy he is on the way out. It turns my stomach when I see some praising him for doing such “a wonderful job and leading us during this crisis”. Ugh.
Schools may be closed, but teachers are still teaching. A refund is not appropriate.
I think we should because I’m seeing a lack of services. I’m a landowner in the business section of town and the roads are full of litter throughout the CBD. We all know that a lot of businesses have been shut the past few months. But I own a food establishment and I should not have to go out into the roads and pick up litter in front of my business. Oh i’m a landowner in the business section of town and the roads are full of litter throughout the CBD. We all know that a lot of businesses have been shut the past few months. But I own a food establishment and I should not have to go out into the roads and pick up litter in front of my business.
This mayor should be called the invisible man. He’s an Empty suit
That’s very funny, but so true. All we can say is next. They come and go, and sometimes they come back again. Hopefully wonder woman straightens out this horse shit that’s going on in the village. But she’s a hard worker. That’s if she takes it.
We need smart workers not just hard workers.
Oh man. I’m so glad I left Ridgewood. All the complaining and back and forth vitriol, and uncivil garbage talk. One of the wealthiest towns in NJ – perhaps even in top 100 nationwide – and obviously it is just full of financially over extended, wannabe millionaires, just a paycheck or three away from personal insolvency and foreclosure. Just like the rest of the hoi poloi. But the Angry Housewives and PowerPoint Dads Show is still very entertaining to watch.
8 out of the 10 comments regarding this topic were posted as anonymous. So 80% display no conviction or responsibility for this position whatsoever. Thus, reap what you sow Ridgewood.