>Towns Challenge New Jersey Voters’ Wishes
By WINNIE HU
Published: May 27, 2010
“To have the Village Council go through and save a dollar a month is a joke,” said Greg May, 39, a recording engineer who is among the 25,000 residents of Ridgewood. “It almost makes me feel like what good was my vote? I think that’s the general consensus.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/nyregion/28schools.html?pagewanted=1&ref=nyregion&src=mv
Ridgewood’s school budget was defeated, by a vote of 2,639 to 2,537, for the first time since 2003. Afterward, school officials identified $100,000 in lower-than-expected transportation costs, and the Council decided not to seek any further reductions. (The district had already planned to lay off 21 teachers and 33 classroom aides to offset an expected $3 million reduction in state aid.)
The result: the average tax bill will increase by $355 instead of $367.
James Foytlin, 48, who runs a popular Web site, The Ridgewood Blog, said there was now talk in town of recalling members of the Council. “It’s just ridiculous,” he said of the $100,000 cut. “I’m sure the school board spends more on paper clips.”
Even so, the $100,000 cut was still too much for one councilman, Paul S. Aronsohn, 43, a public relations consultant, who wanted to reduce the municipal budget rather than school spending to lower property taxes. “I felt like the budget was being balanced on the backs of students,” he said. “I completely understand the need for tax relief, but I don’t think we should take it all out of the schools.”
Patrick A. Mancuso, another member of the Council, acknowledged that the $100,000 cut would make little difference, but said it was a start. He has asked village and school officials to begin looking for ways to save money in the 2011-12 budget by sharing equipment and services like vehicle and property maintenance.
“People say, ‘Are you kidding?’ ” he said. “At least we’re trying to demonstrate that we hear you, we’re going to try harder, we’re going to start now, and that’s important.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/nyregion/28schools.html?pagewanted=1&ref=nyregion&src=mv
