The Hoboken Tax Reform Coalition
Board Of Ed Candidates Answer Revolt Questionnaire
Attached below is a PDF document with the responses to the Revolt questionnaire sent on March 31st, 2010.
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FullBoEQuestionnaire2010.pdf, 142 KB
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Overtaxed on -
Thank you for the effort of publishing all the above.
Based on all the answers, RealResults seem to be the people we need to elect this year. Given the fact that the Mayor and the city council could not provide any tax relief, we, the taxpayers need to re-direct our attention to the school district and their waste. KidsFirst proved to be the same toxic politicians who are doing the democratic political dance and showed us their inability to run the school district efficiently. They made a weak attempt to eliminate some of the waste, but their past year's performance is poor. KF runs on the platform that we do need to spend about $30,000 per student (while other schools spend less than $10,000 with good results) because 'the kids need it'. Meanwhile the whole village knows that the money goes to employees like the secretary who earns $150,000 + benefits. Oh yeah, these people are still there!
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Permalink Reply by Sven on
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Kids First Slate:"As promised last year, the Board cut costs though diligent review of all positions and expenditures.
Every contract was reviewed, many unnecessary positions were eliminated, and almost $2 million was
collected in back rent and food service deficit. These efforts have already lowered the cost per pupil by
$1,791 or 8% to $20,054 below last year’s cost of $21,845 per pupil.
We are absolutely committed to reducing cost per pupil further without reducing programs for the
students. It is a complex, multi year issue involving negotiations with multiple entities. We are confident
responsible cuts can be identified through further audit of various departments. The throwing out of
percentages and numbers without real backup and research is irresponsible, and ineffective and raises
concerns about micro managing the Superintendent by Board members.
We must also be mindful that the fund surplus is at an all time low of $100,000. These are funds a
district would need in case of emergency particularly to the physical plant. Although our facilities are
generally in good repair, there are a few spot issues which could become pressing if maintenance is
deferred."
Nice that back rent and food service deficits were collected. Yet, these are 2 million worth of one-time items that will not be available to help with future budgets. Can we expect a 2 million budget increase next time?
Indeed, further reductions in per pupil costs will require successful union negotiations in the future. Based on the most recent union contract, Kids First have shown themselves to be incapable of conducting negotiations that are fair to the taxpayer. The recently negotiated custodian union contract includes salary raises of 3.5% for each of the coming 3 years, gives away another day off, raises the full-time employment threshold from 20 to 29.5 hours per week (is this really full-time in the real world?) but only for new employees, and requires health care contributions below the 1.5% that will soon be state mandated. Based on this, I'd rather not have Kids First in power when the teacher contract is up for renewal next year!
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Permalink Reply by Jack Dawkins on
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Sven: Do you understand anything about union negotiations? Do you really think that KF could possibly have walked into the negotiation and actually gotten something like:
1) Double the number of work hours for everyone in the bargaining unit (from 20-40)
2) no raise for anyone for the term of the contract
3) 10% reduction on starting salary
4) 25% contribution to healthcare costs
5) give back of 2 personal days
.....and all of this w/o any concessions too boot?
Do you REALLY think that was possible????? Do you think that they would have been more effective if their intent was to walk in and bust the union - demand the above listed concessions on threat of outsourcing?
You may not like it (and Real Results may not know it) but union members have certain protections and the bargaining unit has the right to sit down and represent their interests at the bargaining table. Personally, I think it is unfortunately that all workers do not have some leverage with their employer. "If you dont like it leave" just creates the race to the bottom that so many workers are facing in the US today. And before I hit the "add reply" button, let me say that I think that most of the bargaining units in Hoboken should face a tough negotiation because of the economy (the economy, by the way, that was DESTROYED by Wall St. and greed) KF should be commended for getting the give backs that they got - good first step....a pretty big first step.
Sven said:Kids First Slate:"As promised last year, the Board cut costs though diligent review of all positions and expenditures.
Every contract was reviewed, many unnecessary positions were eliminated, and almost $2 million was
collected in back rent and food service deficit. These efforts have already lowered the cost per pupil by
$1,791 or 8% to $20,054 below last year’s cost of $21,845 per pupil.
We are absolutely committed to reducing cost per pupil further without reducing programs for the
students. It is a complex, multi year issue involving negotiations with multiple entities. We are confident
responsible cuts can be identified through further audit of various departments. The throwing out of
percentages and numbers without real backup and research is irresponsible, and ineffective and raises
concerns about micro managing the Superintendent by Board members.
We must also be mindful that the fund surplus is at an all time low of $100,000. These are funds a
district would need in case of emergency particularly to the physical plant. Although our facilities are
generally in good repair, there are a few spot issues which could become pressing if maintenance is
deferred."
Nice that back rent and food service deficits were collected. Yet, these are 2 million worth of one-time items that will not be available to help with future budgets. Can we expect a 2 million budget increase next time?
Indeed, further reductions in per pupil costs will require successful union negotiations in the future. Based on the most recent union contract, Kids First have shown themselves to be incapable of conducting negotiations that are fair to the taxpayer. The recently negotiated custodian union contract includes salary raises of 3.5% for each of the coming 3 years, gives away another day off, raises the full-time employment threshold from 20 to 29.5 hours per week (is this really full-time in the real world?) but only for new employees, and requires health care contributions below the 1.5% that will soon be state mandated. Based on this, I'd rather not have Kids First in power when the teacher contract is up for renewal next year!
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Permalink Reply by ditto on
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What school district are you talking about? In Hoboken, the 2008-2009 per student cost was $24,500 and the proposed 2010-2011 budget per student cost is $20, 054.
The idea of using the public schools as the chopping block for the tax relief you didn't receive from the city is especially punitive. Kids First has made enormous progress in less a year Kids First has reduced the budget by $4 million (7%) and there is no tax increase, cut positions, initiated a district financial audit which uncovered budget irregularities, and hired independent legal counsel to review and correct all irregular contracts among other things. Kids First's responsible budget decisions meant that a fiscal monitor slated to come to the district was no longer required; this was announced at the March 9th BOE meeting. Kids First is doing the hard work of righting decades of mismanagement that in the real world takes time.
Overtaxed said:Thank you for the effort of publishing all the above.
Based on all the answers, RealResults seem to be the people we need to elect this year. Given the fact that the Mayor and the city council could not provide any tax relief, we, the taxpayers need to re-direct our attention to the school district and their waste. KidsFirst proved to be the same toxic politicians who are doing the democratic political dance and showed us their inability to run the school district efficiently. They made a weak attempt to eliminate some of the waste, but their past year's performance is poor. KF runs on the platform that we do need to spend about $30,000 per student (while other schools spend less than $10,000 with good results) because 'the kids need it'. Meanwhile the whole village knows that the money goes to employees like the secretary who earns $150,000 + benefits. Oh yeah, these people are still there!
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Permalink Reply by Overtaxed on
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So we should all be happy that there is no tax increase, and we should forget that there was a 50% tax hike overnight.
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Permalink Reply by Jack Dawkins on
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you can thank the developer community and the city hall corruption for 3 decades for your tax hike, not KF.
Overtaxed said:So we should all be happy that there is no tax increase, and we should forget that there was a 50% tax hike overnight.
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Permalink Reply by Overtaxed on
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KF knows about the many ILLEGAL students, but did not make a serious attempt to get rid of them.
KF offered Romano an even higher salary without any strings attached.
KF just signed a custodian contract with raises on a part time schedule.
KF just gave raises to the top administrators.
KF women have to many friends and relatives in the city hall/school district to be able to be impartial.
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Permalink Reply by ditto on
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KF knows about the many ILLEGAL students, but did not make a serious attempt to get rid of them.Students have been removed and there are ongoing investigations into out-of-district students and there will be as long as the problem is ongoing. There is a planned district re-registration in several stages throughout the remaining school year and summer. There has never been any evidence other than anecdotal for the figure of 200 out-of-district students.
KF offered Romano an even higher salary without any strings attached. The Board voted 7-2 in favor of hiring Romano.
KF just signed a custodian contract with raises on a part time schedule. Sullivan chairs the committee that negotiated the custodian's contract. Sullivan signed the custodians contract Jan.26th 2010.
KF just gave raises to the top administrators. After her "no" vote Sullivan contradicted herself saying "I know we are getting a good deal" from Carter and Davis (vote for the 10 sick/personal/vacations days for the BA and Superintendent).
KF women have to many friends and relatives in the city hall/school district to be able to be impartial. KF have cut positions, initiated a district wide financial audit which uncovered $1.6 million is misappropriated funds and hired independent legal counsel to review all contracts and correct any irregular or illegal contracts.
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Permalink Reply by truthseeker on
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You are bragging about spending more than $20,000 per pupil? and that's the proposed budget...budgets only go higher.
budget was cut $1.2 million or 2%, according to Robert Davis, business administrator.
KF pawned the textbooks they already owned for $500,000 instead of making cuts. and now we have to pay back that loan over the next five years with interest. These fiscal incompetents should be thrown out of office on that alone. these are the same financial shenanigans that got Dave Roberts in trouble.
thank you for confirming what I already knew: KIDS FIRST HAS NO INTENTION OF CUTTING TAXES.
ditto said:What school district are you talking about? In Hoboken, the 2008-2009 per student cost was $24,500 and the proposed 2010-2011 budget per student cost is $20, 054.
The idea of using the public schools as the chopping block for the tax relief you didn't receive from the city is especially punitive. Kids First has made enormous progress in less a year Kids First has reduced the budget by $4 million (7%) and there is no tax increase, cut positions, initiated a district financial audit which uncovered budget irregularities, and hired independent legal counsel to review and correct all irregular contracts among other things. Kids First's responsible budget decisions meant that a fiscal monitor slated to come to the district was no longer required; this was announced at the March 9th BOE meeting. Kids First is doing the hard work of righting decades of mismanagement that in the real world takes time.
Overtaxed said:Thank you for the effort of publishing all the above.
Based on all the answers, RealResults seem to be the people we need to elect this year. Given the fact that the Mayor and the city council could not provide any tax relief, we, the taxpayers need to re-direct our attention to the school district and their waste. KidsFirst proved to be the same toxic politicians who are doing the democratic political dance and showed us their inability to run the school district efficiently. They made a weak attempt to eliminate some of the waste, but their past year's performance is poor. KF runs on the platform that we do need to spend about $30,000 per student (while other schools spend less than $10,000 with good results) because 'the kids need it'. Meanwhile the whole village knows that the money goes to employees like the secretary who earns $150,000 + benefits. Oh yeah, these people are still there!
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Permalink Reply by truthseeker on
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Revolt question # 6. The current board recently approved a budget that will effectively result in no change in
the tax levy. What cuts, if any, can you identify that could have been made to reduce the
current budget?
Kids First:
Every cut was reviewed and every possible savings was reflected.
Let KF's words speak for themselves. They did everything they possibly could. They could not deliver a tax cut.
And no where do they say they have any intention of delivering a tax cut next year.
In her letter to the editor of the Hoboken Reporter, Rose Markel says "KF promised to be fiscally responsible. Not provide tax relief."
That's not the message that Peter Cunningham heard, however. In his letter to the editor he says, "the board's majority promised last year to lower our taxes..."
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Permalink Reply by ditto on
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Here is the full answer form Kids First to question #6:
Last April, all the Board Trustees unanimously agreed upon certain goals moving forward, two of which were – no increase in the tax levy and no cuts to successful classroom programs . The recently approved budget met both of those goals.
Considering the devastation occurring in many other districts around the State, we were pleased to be praised by many, including NJ State Education Commissioner Bret Schundler. He praised the district on the diligent and thoughtful work that went into the budget presented by Superintendent Carter and Business Administrator Davis.
Every cut was reviewed and every possible savings was reflected. This was accomplished even thought the district had lost almost 2.5 million total of 5% of our budget in State Aid.
It took many years of mismanagement to create the situation that was inherited last year. This year inroads were made but we must continue the progress, while continuing to improve the quality of education that we are providing for the students.
truthseeker said:Revolt question # 6. The current board recently approved a budget that will effectively result in no change in
the tax levy. What cuts, if any, can you identify that could have been made to reduce the
current budget?
Kids First:
Every cut was reviewed and every possible savings was reflected.
Let KF's words speak for themselves. They did everything they possibly could. They could not deliver a tax cut.
And no where do they say they have any intention of delivering a tax cut next year.
In her letter to the editor of the Hoboken Reporter, Rose Markel says "KF promised to be fiscally responsible. Not provide tax relief."
That's not the message that Peter Cunningham heard, however. In his letter to the editor he says, "the board's majority promised last year to lower our taxes..."
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