On the backs of over-burdened taxpayers. When will the increases stop? When there is no one able to pay anymore? I believe that Atlas has shrugged. Who is John Galt?

I agree, I haven't had a pay raise in 4 years, why is the town giving out pay increases when there is a budget deficit???I love Wayne, but will never be able to retire here, it really sucks. I am sure there is some way to cut expenses starting with pay increases, maybe even pay decreases, taking away paid unused vacation and sick time which is what I had to give up to keep my job. I think we really need someone in office that can run this town without giving us huge tax increases every year...

Justice...if you were at the meeting last night you would realize that the headline in this article is a little misleading. It was very clear that the board would not support the $355 increase per average home and the meeting ended with a request to the superintendent to propose cuts up to 4.1 million.

I think our school system has cut over $10 million in the last few year...$4.1 MORE?? I am not in favor of this. Yes, we have to make some cuts but I would prefer to pay a bit more taxes to have a higher level school system.

At what point does this stop. The worst economic conditions ever recorded, yet the taxing authorities seek yet more.

I read in today's paper that the Pequannock school system taxes are GOING DOWN! Granted, they are a smaller system, however it's all on scale. Maybe we need to take a more prudent look and reduce or cut some expenses. I hear lots and lots of figures! What I don't hear is what are we doing to reduce costs that we can control. Have we ever considered privatizing our janitorial service? Have we ever looked into it? How about our debt? Can we refinance? After all, rates are low. What is our debt rating? How about our benefits packages and our property and casualty insurance coverage? Are we pooling for that which should reduce cost! Are we out getting RFP'S for our health insurance. Cutting those costs by 1 or 2 % can save a fair amount of money! Are we really doing all we can or are our BOE trustees too busy looking in the mirror at themselves to figure this out!

Factor in the Wayne Municipal tax increase and the County increase, and I bet that the "average home" in Wayne will see a tax increase of about $1000. You know, I think it's time for a tax appeal on my home!

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Here we go again. The more taxes, the better for the school system. An increase of $355 is just too small. We’d better have an increase of $3,555 or $35,555, or even $355,555.
Let’s pay more as suggested by the above comments from TheMinnetto4. Although my company has stopped giving a raise for a couple of years since the recession, I am paying more and more taxes every year since the recession. When will this BOE or those people like TheMinnetto4 ever stop taking more money from the taxpayers?
Do these people live in Wayne?

No question the taxes alone are going to cause me to leave Wayne. This is NOT the community I grew up in, in many unfortunate respects. I bet if one went through the line items of the budget, you'd still see a lot of wasteful spending. You can move next door to Montville, Wyckoff or Oakland and buy into higher-ranked school systems for roughly 60% of the tax you pay in Wayne. Until recently, you couldn't ever get as much house for the money but you'll get a better school system, a tighter community and a town that hasn't changed nearly as much in the past 20 years. If you do the math, with Wayne's increases, within 4 years the overall affordability (mortgage + tax) is going to even out. That means you can get pretty much the same house in a much better town, which was not previously the case. That was always the justification for moving to Wayne over Bergen or better Morris County towns. Now with the taxes so far out of control, mostly due to schools that are slipping in the rankings, not to mention the flooding issues (which also costs us in tremendous police overtime and additional equipment expenditure), there is no question Morris County is a much better value these days; Somerset County even better.

The thing that really bothers me is that politicians always talk in terms of spending caps. We need real fiscal reform in the form of spending reductions. The FIRST place we should be looking is the municipal budget. Thank God we have a volunteer fire and EMS service - my sincerest gratitude to all of you. The police have always been above reproach but I keep wondering why we have SO MANY cops in this town. Yes, a lot of stuff goes down but let's face it, cops in suburban NJ have the best deal of anyone. Their union has negotiated minimal work hours for maximum pay and fringe benefits. All so that they can mostly write traffic tickets. More goes down in Wayne these days than most realize, but I still resent how poorly most law-abiding citizens are being treated on routine traffic stops and the like. I see a lot of cops lazing around at various local strip malls, and WAY too many speed traps, etc. We should reduce our police force by 30 or so cops and make the remainder work a 40-50 hour week like the rest of us. The schools also have a lot of fat - we are overstocked with guidance counselors and specialists. The physical structures cost a lot to run which is why I would have preferred add-ons to existing schools rather than the new mini-college campus at Anthony Wayne that benefits certain residents and not others. There are a lot of things this town can do better but seems to ignore. I am very disappointed in my experience since I have moved back here.

Tax appeal deadline is April 1. I saw someone suggesting that it is time for an appeal, it may be true, the values are off about 35% from peak and sales are low and dropping, so yes it is a good time for tax appeals. Many towns are seeing a jump in appeals based solely on market decline..

You can thank Bob Ceberio for pulling that pay to play program! He was running for Freeholder and thought it would be a great political ploy. It cost us taxpayers 50,000 and HE LOST THE ELECTION. THANKS BOB! It sounds presumptious, but the only way you're going to change things is to vote out each one of the Board members over the next 3 years. What we need is fiscally responsible people on the BOE. These taxes are killing us! Clean out Nellis Drive! To many people sitting in that office that are highly paid! We need MORE FOR LESS! They just don't understand that concept!

I have looked into this and will be appealing my own taxes. However, this is trickier than it seems. Under the law, if the town's valuation is within 15% of the market value of the home, then you have no right to appeal, which means many will be thrown out as a matter of course. The town's assessment is almost exactly at 50% of the TMV. For example, a house assessed at $300k is deemed to have a TMV of $600k. You have to prove that your house is worth AT LEAST 15% less than $600k; in other words, $510,000, in order to have any shot at a reduction. Considering that homes are selling, on average, about 5-8% below asking price, it doesn't bode well for a successful appeal in many cases. The way to prove it is through recent comparable sales, together with any other factors you can find that might provide evidence of value. A lot of this is more art than science. But as you can see, in real dollar terms, the 15% buffer provides a great protection for the town to preserve its stated values. In addition, if too many people appeal, the town simply adjusts the ratio to make up for the shortfall, so everyone winds up paying regardless. The system is rigged to be lose-lose in most cases.

You are correct about the 15% swing , however the Tax Board is quite good and knowledgable and they know when there is a valid avenue, also the tax assessors in most towns are also ready to correct their records, they know that they should have accurate assessments. Some are valid, many are overstated. some understated. The ones that are overstated should not be disuaded from appeal. The deadline is April 1, the forms can be downloaded, the cost is minimal, the state makes a booklet of instructions available. Google Property Tax Appeals NJ and you will be linked up.

over taxation, isn't this why we had the Boston tea party, and the revolutionary. war?? taxation without representation!!! enough of taking it out of our pockets. between taxes and fuel prices they might as well just declare us poor. its getting to the point where we can barely put food on our tables! keep raising everything and soon Wayne and the entire, state, country will be a third world country, with only the rich living the so called good life.

As Al has already mentioned, our neighbor, the Pequannock school system is not giving out pay raises and is actually under budget.
As respects to my attendance at last evening's meeting, that is irrelevant to this discourse. Yes I am aware that the increase MAY not be as much as the title of this article suggests; however, it is not in writing; therefore, not binding.

Dom, this is called "redistribution of wealth". Marie Antoinette simply stated it as "let them eat cake" just prior to the French Revolution. Castro got his way in Cuba. Need I continue? Bottom line, vote them out for real. The Wayne schools feel an unrealistic entitlement, and they talk about the poor souls on welfare that have an entitlement attitude? Yes, get rid of all the guidance counselors, administrators, directors, coaches, assistant superintendents, etc. It should be pay for play, just as in the private schools. Enough is enough. This is unconscionable.

Things are going $ UP! Just wait! I bet most of you who are complaining thinsk OBAMA is doing a great job and the economy is doing good!

The proposed budget is a disgrace. They have a 2% Cap so why are they proposing this budget at all? They are driving people out of Wayne. There are over 300 foreclosures in Wayne. Ratable income is dropping every year. Why was the new Super allowed to hire his friend at a six figure salary. Another one from the losing Paterson School District. They are destroying this town. The BOE is reason number 1. Listen up the Wayne District isn't all what they say it is. Look at all the scandels over the last 10 years. Vote this BOE out. This budget would never pass if it was put to a vote. BTW the vote they voted away from you the taxpayer. They need to make cuts in administrators with six figure salaries, outsource the busing etc. Stop giving the WEA everything they ask for. How about taking care of the taxpayers? Not in Wayne where the motto is SPEND, SPEND, SPEND.

For those of you who keep referring to Pequannock take a look at their budget. They get 3 times the percentage of state aid Wayne gets (state aid as a percentage of budget). Must be nice.

people just remember we can no longer vote on the school budget unless it"s above two percent and wayne was the first town to move the voting to november our rights are being taken away slowly but surely!

Property tax or State aid it still comes from the taxpayers. This BOE and it's budget is out of control. Look at how many six figure salaries there are. Wayne is top loaded with high paid administrators. They need to make serious cuts, not cut one and hire two. The breakage BS is all smoke and mirrors. The more programs the more they hire. Bringing in out of district students means more traffic, more positions & benefits paid out and possibly more crime. The Mayor and most of the council came from the BOE, most of the BOE wanna be politicians. Wake up! The loss of tax revenue is dropping every year by millions, this will be a record year for tax appeals and for most they will win their appeals. This leaves the rest to make up the loss. This is a losing situation. The BOE has to be satisfied with less. All these new programs & method's most of them have been failures. Get back to basics and use proven method's. I am sure the busing can be outsourced and cost less. Look at the cost of salaries and benefits as compared to actual operating cost. Additions to the existing middle schools would have worked. Did we need a new Middle School with an entire new staff & administration? Who planned a school with only one entrance in & out? If there was an emergency with emergency vehicles coming in and people trying to leave the area this would be a disaster at the entrance. Beuatiful school too bad we can't see it with all the solar panels blocking the entire view of the school.

Let's ask these big spenders to alleviate the burden of the taxpayers. LOL
http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/030712_Teachers_union_topped_New_Jersey_in_2011_spending_on_lobbying.html?c=y&page=2

The new Middle School was built because the BOE said the school population would dramatically increase. Have we noticed a sharp increase in the student population since then? No.
The BOE is corrupt.

@Chicken Little - very funny comment. Isn't that the truth! It seems like the same people say the same think no matter what the issues or facts are. Sounds like some people have personal political agendas or are sour grapes.

People who take the time to keep their eyes and ears open, in regards to Town matters have a right to vent or rave in a forum they feel comfortable with. The big mistake I made was to get involved in a campaign last year and found out more than I wanted to in regards to the BOE. Going to meetings, reading agendas and meeting minutes opens up your eyes at times. Now that I'm interested in matters, I want to speak in regards to how I feel about BOE or Town Council matters. If people take exception to it, that's fine. They are certainly entitled to their opinion. I simply hope somebody reads these posts and something resonates with them. Hopefully they will take and interest and learn more. Sometimes, change is good . I think as taxpayers, we should be entitled to efficient, transparent and honest government. Is that too much to ask for?

Tratt, the reason there is a $50,000 alleged loss in the adult program is due to the non-stop increase in taxes, pushing the seniors out of town. Tax dollars are not meant to only educate children, but to provide services to protect the citizens of this entity.

Last election, there were many posters whose prime objective was to attempt to brainwash the public into what a wonderful town this was. Shortly afterward, it was found that these posters were from the college and were asked to use their skills to "swing" the election. They didn't live in Wayne, nor care about Wayne. It was a sociology experiment to them. Whereas, some of the posters may rant and rave; but I prefer to read them all and find the truth. The truth will not set the BOE and Council free; but we have a constitutional right to it.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

"The Declaration of Independence.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,.."

The Declaration of Independence Con't
"-That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--"

Tratt, the only ones with agendas are the ones insisting on protecting the status quo which are in their self-serving interests. Only one of many examples are the Rumananians and his minions. Observe what they did to Brennan who ran against him. Observe what he did in his own party. Observe all he is involved with. He does not deserve to be an Assembly person for any district, let alone this one.

There are only 50 comments on this article; however there are currently 439 comments on an article that wants to keep Coach Olsen as both coach and ad. This says it all about the priorities and the status quo in Wayne.

Puts it all in perspective, doesn't it?

Well copy and paste the link to this article and send it to your friends in Wayne.

@ Chicken Little, it was French political philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville said that in a democracy, we get the government we deserve.

Prior to this escalating school tax situation, we had a BOE that was reasonable and kept costs within budget. Mrs. Hermann ran it and was wonderful. I wish she could run it again and do away with all this nonsense and patronage jobs.