For the 2008-09 school year, homeowners faced a 9.72 percent increase, in part to build a $57 million middle school in Upper Nazareth and to cope with burgeoning student enrollment.The "burgeoning student enrollment" does not exist and was documented earlier (read the post here) So the NASD planned ahead by hiking taxes last year and making themselves look good this year with a modest 3% hike.
Last year's increase also softened the blow this year and positioned the district to face future challenges, said Business Administrator Bernadine Rishcoff.
''We'd be in a much different situation financially, facing either severe cuts or much higher tax increases,'' she said.
Then this information follows:
The district has also restructured debt and cut transportation and other expenses. In addition, the district is expecting $1.78 million in federal stimulus money.I'm a bit concerned that we are relying on nearly $2M from the government, but they don't seem to be shy at handing out money. I'm also concerned that we may have pushed off some expenses, not taken bonds etc in this year to make the budget work that we will get doubly hit with next year. I feel this way because prior to the decision to build the MS the Board Finance Committee indicated we couldn't make ends meet and would be looking at significant tax hikes that would require referendum votes.
What happens in two years is a major concern, said Rishcoff, particularly if the state supplants funding with federal stimulus money and decides not to restore it when the stimulus money runs out. The district is also challenged with paying for employee pensions.
3 comments:
Does Ms. Rishcoff, our Business Administrator, actually have any business training? If yes, I can see why she is not in the business world and is in taxpayer funded (read government) position.
If people like this ran a major corporation, it would have been bankrupt long ago.
What she basically said is they cooked the books on enrollment to boost taxes last year, and now look like the white knight this year because they didn't have to raise them as much as originally planned. Stupidity at its best.
Making us reliant on "stimulus" cash. News flash, someone has to pay for it, and guess what, it is us the taxpayers. We may not get the bill for another year or so, but it is coming. So, any tax break we are seeing now will be offset by the one we get from the feds in a couple of years.
This district administration has the business sense of a gnat. Any small (or large for that matter) business owner would be able to untangle this mess, but we continue to get the same cast of inept administrators who couldn't manage a corner lemonade stand.
So....the new fieldhouse that was just an idea last month is now on the agenda for approval! Do we really need to keep funneling money into the sports facility right now? More building....and not for educational purposes! Don't complain about your taxes if you're not willing to object to this frivolous spending.
Ranter -- the common sense angle was lost in this district some years ago. Nazareth faces the same challenges that the US is facing right now.. There is zero financial responsibility. The ONLY one on the board that has some is Maher.. hes an accountant if memory serves me correctly. He tells everyone "hey we cant afford this".. but the votes go though 8-1.. People somewhere along the ways have lost common sense. Back in the old days, you went to the store with 10 dollars , you got 10 dollars worth of goods. Today you rip out your credit card, if that doesnt work rip out card #2, and so on and so on. Bury yourself deeper in debt and than stand there and look for someone to help you out (which it sounds like we are now doing). The new Nazareth philosophy is put it up now and we will worry about the payments later. Its also the same with the economy today. Go buy a house you know you cant afford, make the min. payments for a couple years and than worry about it later.. Im actually terrified to see what shapw this district and country will be in 5 years from now.. sorry for the Rant !!! have a good night
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