Please God, No.

by: nsodano

Sun Apr 10, 2011 at 12:59:31 AM EDT

Yet all around us, popping up like mushrooms are lawn signs saying that less cops equals more crime, so vote Yes.  Vote to increase taxes.   By how much I ask.   My fearful friend says maybe 30%.   That is about $1200?   Maybe $900 says the friend.  

Then comes the perplexing comments about a tax shortfall due to the revaluation of buildings in town.   Huh?  The reval is not supposed to change tax receipts I say, right?    Right says friend,  but Nevertheless repeats the non-sequitor that the Tax Assessor says we will be short money due to the Reval.    And by the way, the redevelopment is killing us and tax exempt properties are now up to 40% from their former high of 28%.    

I lament that all these problems are just causing the sacrifice of middle class benefits and jobs when whats needed is for rich people to kick in more.   My friend is obviously not happy with this comment and pushes the conversation back to the point, which is that we really cant allow the feared diversion of UEZ money because the future of the town depends on it.  Perhaps that money could be loaned instead?    

So I say,  this tends to piss people off when i say it, but maybe you ought to try what the cops have done with signs all over town, you know, convince people of your position?  To which my friend replies that the business association was notified.    That's like what, 50 people?
But there seems to be no appetite for actual democracy in my friend.

So, as an encouragement I say that people seem ready to support the cops even if it means paying some more taxes, although probably not a $1200 hike.  To which my friend says that there should be no hike at all, that we should live withing our means.    

Which is exactly why the township council is eyeballing that half million dollars in the first place.  Funny how these "starve the beast" fans never contemplate their own interests in keeping the beast fed.  

I don't think God will intervene on this one.  

An activist court only when they disagree the with rulings

by: Jason Springer

Tue Jun 15, 2010 at 10:00:00 AM EDT

Christie's press secretary Michael Drewniak said in a prepared statement, the governor was pleased that the court "recognized his significant responsibilities and executive authority during a fiscal and financial crisis."

"We know using surplus balances was a difficult step for school districts, but it was an urgent and necessary step," the statement said.

"I am pleased that the court affirmed Governor Christie's executive order and recognized this action was an appropriate step in order to deal with the fiscal crisis he inherited when he took office.  New Jersey is dealing with unprecedented financial challenges and bold decisions need to be made in order to get us through these difficult times.  

"Those who refuse to acknowledge our fiscal problems need to face reality and understand they, too, must be part of the solution.  The court's ruling confirms that accessing a school district's surplus fund is not only within the governor's constitutional authority, but is a logical approach in attacking the budget shortfall."

GOP Candidate Blames Taxpayer Peril on Christie Cuts

by: vmars

Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 11:02:21 AM EDT

Hayes said, "I believe that dealing with the economic situation that Berkeley Heights faces, due to the significantly reduced state funding and rising costs and mandates of local government, requires a necessary balancing act to maintain our municipal services and schools without radically impacting our taxpayers.

Reduced state funding?  Wonder how that happened.

Chris Christie and the Budget State of Emergency Speech

by: Hopeful

Thu Feb 11, 2010 at 09:45:00 AM EST

Update by Hopeful: Reactions from legislators are posted in comments. Republicans are supportive, Democrats promise a "long, hard look."

Chris Christie will be addressing the legislature today and is expected to describe how he will close this year's budget gap. The speech is scheduled for 10:30AM and we'll live blog it.

NJ.com has a preview:

Gov. Chris Christie will declare a state of emergency in a major budget speech today, laying the groundwork to make a range of cuts that will include $475 million in withheld state aid to schools, according to people familiar with his plans...

Christie will introduce $475 million in cuts to school funding to more than 500 school districts, a move he will not need legislative approval for, according to a Democrat who was briefed by Christie administration officials Wednesday night.

More furloughs, however, are not expected.

You'll remember that Corzine had proposed cuts to state aid in December, but thought he needed legislative approval and didn't get it by the time he left office.

I hear the speech will be televised on NJN, and it is on NJN radio and their radio live stream. Here is a link to the NJN Video live stream.

Still more cuts coming at the Star Ledger

by: Jason Springer

Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 01:15:00 PM EDT

To: Full-Time Employees

From: George Arwady

Subject: VOLUNTARY BUYOUT OFFER

Consistent with my updates to you, the revenue situation at our newspaper has worsened this year, and we expect a further significant revenue decline next year.

We are working on the budget for 2010, and it is clear that we must reduce our staff significantly to offset the continuing steep decline in revenue. My best estimate is that the full-time workforce must be reduced by at least 50 people.

Accordingly, we are announcing another voluntary buyout offer. Full-time, non-represented employees can apply to receive 2 weeks' pay for every year of completed service, capped at 26 weeks' pay, along with medical coverage for the severance period. The newspaper reserves the right to reject applications based upon business needs.

We sincerely hope that we meet our staffing goals through this voluntary buyout offer. If we do not, we will need to resort to other ways of reducing our employee costs, which could include involuntary layoffs.

Corzine announces Emergency Budget Cuts

by: Hopeful

Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 02:53:18 PM EST

"We are in unprecedented times, and therefore unprecedented action is necessary to keep the state on sound financial footing," Governor Corzine said. "With revenues continuing to trend downward, we must take appropriate steps to continue to live within our means."

The specific measures are said to be:

• A requirement that all state employees take two unpaid furlough days in May and June, one in May and one in June, saving $35 million;
     
• Redirecting $160 million in balances from dedicated funds to support programs currently supported by general taxpayer funds. About half of these funds will be used to help avoid the Unemployment Insurance tax increase;
     
• Requesting the Legislature to enact a Tax Amnesty Program, which is expected to generate $100 million;
     
• Utilizing $500 million that was previously set aside for debt relief and $200 million available from the Fiscal Year 2008 budget surplus;
     
• Accessing $450 million from the Rainy Day Fund.
  

In addition, the state is expected to receive about $850 million from the federal stimulus package, scheduled to be signed into law Tuesday afternoon by President Barack Obama.

So we already have furloughs. Let us hope we do not have to travel California's route of massive layoffs. Fortunately we have a functional state constitution so it is less likely that Republican extremists can hold the state hostage.

Update:  The italicized point that the furlough is one day in May and one day in June was sent out as a clarification by the governor's office.

Corzine, Like Clinton, Only With More Time to Turn It Around

by: mikeshapiro

Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:01:22 AM EST