For Passaic, NJ Property Tax payers

Posted by request of a poster who wishes to remain anonymous:

I know that many Passaic voters read Yeshiva World News as well as the Coffee Room (many have said so in this forum and in person to me). Therefore I would like to raise an important issue that affects us as taxpayers, here – where many of us will see it.

We will be voting in school elections on Tuesday. I am sure that we are all hearing about which candidates to vote for and such, but there is also one item on the ballot that is totally ignored – the Public Question. If you haven’t seen it yet, here it is for you to read now:

“RESOLVED, That there should be raised for the General Fund $16,818,577 for the ensuing school year (2010-2011).”

Let me translate that sentence, because it is not obvious what it says at first glance: Vote yes if you would like to pay hundreds extra in property taxes this year so that the school can get an extra 16.8 million dollars. Vote no otherwise.

This is a question that has been on the ballot year after year. And every year, the question was ignored by most voters. Less than 1/3 of those who showed up

to vote answered yes or no. People voted on the candidates, but didn’t vote on the proposal. The proposal passes, year after year, with a few hundred votes only –

probably mostly school employees and administrators. I strongly believe that the only reason people are abstaining from voting on this issue that affects them directly (in $$) is because they are not aware of it.

The money they are seeking with this proposal is not the money for the school budget – it is in excess of that amount (which is already raised through a school tax levy in our property taxes, and we don’t vote on it). This is money for other purposes (we are never told exactly what – everything is mixed together in the “general fund” so that every dollar not raised can be said to “take away from important resources” which would be sustainable without this increase). In these belt-tightening times, would you rather give the money to the public school (perhaps to expand after school curriculums) or would you rather keep it yourself? The private sector has been making cuts in the bad economy; the public sector should be no exception.

As I said, only a few hundred votes are cast on this question. I would like to encourage everyone who votes in this election to make sure and vote on the public question too. And please spread the word. If 3,000 people show up to vote then I hope that 3,000 votes are cast for the public question too (3,000 is a very low percent turnout, but it about the turnout we usually see). I feel strongly that an additional tax increase should be decided by eliciting the opinion of as many voters as possible. If the majority of voters believe the school should get this extra money then so be it, but if the majority would say no then – for goodness sakes – let them SAY IT!