I have decided to demand an appropriate raise from my failing employer.

About 15 years ago the BOE looked into outsourcing the busing. What they found was that once a district sold it's buses to a transportation company and after the initial contract, other districts became hostage to whatever the transportation companies wanted to charge and the annual costs then FAR EXCEEDED what had been costing the taxpayers - that 2 - 4 years savings went down the drain quickly
The cost of rebuilding a bus fleet for a district the size of Wayne would have been onerous.
Don't let this current BOE tell you otherwise, if they do, something stinks.

There needs to be wholesale elimination of programs, excessive administration, and duplication of resources in the budget. It should be reduced to about $120 million with a surgical rational cost/benefit analysis of every part of the budget.

If I'm not mistaken, I think Dr Gonzalez has indicated that they have looked into the outsourcing of transportation, and I think he said it wasn't economically feasible. Also,if they ever to decide to outsource transportation, I don't think selling all of our vehicles to this new company would be wise. I think the smarter thing to do would be lease them to the new company. Reason being, if this new company fails to live up to our expectations, doesn't do a good and efficient job, then at least we still own the vehicles.

Wayne Township is almost 27 square miles. Yes Tartans, remember when they talked about privatization of bus service. Dollar amounts were just "through the roof" and that was the last time you heard about that.Enrollment has gone down but costs keep rising ? Does anybody on the board NOSE about downsizing ? Guess not.

Change the laws ? OOPS, forgot who we have that has the power to do that. Politicians, what was I thinking.

When it comes to property taxes paying for education, State Law prohibits how local governments can raise money, leaving only 1). property tax and 2).limited user fees - charges imposed upon residents and businesses that use or receive specific services.
Changes have to be made at the State level. The State will have to end CMPTRA (consolidated municipal property tax relief act ) and let the municipalities use the their own tax money instead of turning it over to the state and waiting for it to be washed and a portion returned in a form of Relief. To date the State still skims millions of dollars from municipal taxes and funnels it back through the State Government for it's own use. The CMPTRA was renamed ETR ( energy tax relief ) and the current "toolkit" 2% cap is nothing more than another pyramid scam-booger, so obvious that school superintendents can announce 2% tax increases weeks or months before budget talks begin. No, it's not set in stone- it's "automatic", so much so that they should call it the AR-15 Tax Bill.

J.V....so what your explaining here is the State is double dipping or triple dipping. Not only are they getting money from us through the state income tax as well as the state sales tax, they are skimming money from the municipal taxes we pay. O.k. Where are our local representatives like Rumana and O'Toole to try to change this. Aren't they supposed to represent the people of Wayne at the State level? They are aware of this and not doing anything about it?

Al, Our final taxes far exceed those of Sweden and other well developed countries. Total up the following: Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, Sales Tax, Tax at the Gas Pumps (which the consumer pays) Property Taxes, Fees (another fancy name for taxes) for Licenses, Registrations, Permits, and many,many more dollars that are spent from the consumer's GROSS income. The net pay for the average consumer leaves very little for discretionary spending. Yet, some wonder why the economy is in a free fall. Additionally, the burden of the student loans, (thanks to Bush, removing the fixed % rate on student loans among other factors) for young families with 2 incomes and our future economy is in the cesspool. Young families no longer choose to live in Wayne for various reasons. Seniors are moving out in order to have more disposable income. Who will the BOE collect from then? They have no shame whatsoever. They are part of the ENTITLEMENT mentality that is growing. This mentality isn't limited to the urban areas, it is growing in the suburbs like a cancer and the BOE's have spearheaded the process.

As a follow up, the quality of life in the United States is far less than that of Sweden. Now, before anyone tells me to move to Sweden, I would have to do so as an illegal and then be deported back to the United States. Sweden does not take kindly to illegals. Their charity starts at home, unlike the charity of the United States government that is fighting all over the planet and then has homeless, hungry, uninsured/underinsured citizens at home.

The property tax rebates were also eliminated. Add the ENTITLEMENT to the BOE of 2% per annum and we wonder why there is no money honey. Finally, why was such an inexperienced person from an urban district hired? That person has cost us so much more money by adding all these administrators. Was it to cover his lack of experience that he needed to do this? I believe the Peter Principle is at work here, except the target has cocooned himself with layers of administrators, that he is able to deflect his own incompetence. Remove the layers and we will see the true worth of this wonderful BOE accomplishment.

The BOE (BRING ON EVERYONE) is like a sinkhole. It keeps getting bigger and deeper. And until we find a dependable and trustworthy company that can come in and repair that sinkhole, it will just keep getting bigger and deeper.We never had been as close to the amount of "administrators" we have now as to when I was in school back when this school system was rated in the "Top 10" in the state.It's sad to see the school system "sink" deeper because here in Wayne,"More is better".

The last time I checked Wayne made the top 100, at the very top. No longer Top 10. The new report cards should be out soon.
Somewhere there should be a listing of all administrators, their salaries and benefits.
Include the para professionals in that list.
Leave out the teachers.

Nose, did you have a Dean of Students? Did Leanbean have a Dean of Students? I certainly didn't have one.
The teachers and guidance took care of situations. Mostly the teachers.

Private schools are not as costly. Why?

I propose rebates to those who have children in private schools, those without children, empty-nesters and any other majority I have forgotten.

I guarantee that the budget will be revised downwards and the fat at the top gone.

I bet the stats will prove that the people with legitimate children in the system are in the minority in Wayne. Take out foster, step and any other child who can go to school elsewhere and have those towns reimburse Wayne.
Companies are now demanding that spouses with health insurance be insured through their own company or pay a penalty. It was done to keep costs down.
Why can't Wayne do the same?
Why do I have to pay for a child that can easily live with another parent who lives in an urban district; but is sending the child to Wayne because of the system?
Anyone have those stats?

We are being used, blued and tattooed by the BOE.

Al, just want you to know that you are the one who managed to revise my position as respects to the teachers. That was not an easy task as I always thought that the teachers were a major part of this nonsense. It was the BOE who threw the teachers under the bus. Thanks Al

Leanbean
You should get more than a refund. Plus interest and factor in the lack of the use of the money for all those years. Of course I am open to a small donation when you receive that money. Lol

That's a deal. You get me the refund and 25% of it's yours.Lol

I think all of us could look back at our education and compare it to what it's like today. I went to a public school in Paterson that was a K-8 school. We didn't have middle schools back then. There was a Principal and a Vice-Principal. In today's educational climate, you would have 2 schools serving those kids, with 2 Principals and 2 Vice-Principals. There were no 504's nor IEP's back in the day. I think we got through it just fine. Are we coddling these kids today? Is there too much entitlement? I certainly don't have the expertise to answer that. All I know is that things were simpler, a lot less costlier and we all came out just fine. Sometimes, I think we are providing too much. I'm sure there can be many arguments on both sides of this, and I don't mean any disrespect to someone who may have a child who is classified or a learning disability. I just wonder how far the State and Federal Government will continue to push these kinds of educational initiatives., because the cost is falling on all of our backs.

When I went to school, truly disabled were either home taught or went to North JerseyTraining Center. Adhd etc were handled as discipline problems. Insurance would pay for the disabled or the state would, not property taxes. Furthermore, all the Section 8 with multiple offspring are also on the backs of taxpayers without relief. Why are we being used for other people's choices? We are not the charity that Boe thinks we are.

I'd like them to do a study on how many households in this township have kids in the school system? And how many do not? I know when my sister went off to college. She had to pay for all her credits herself. The tax payers didn't pay for her college credits while she was still in high school. Today we are and I for one don't think it's right. I'm also for pay to play. But I don't see that changeing either. I know with the way things are going. Being on a fixed income. I might live to see the day my house is up for a tax sale. But the cost of living increases that S.S gives doesn't keep up with the tax increases. And the State stopped all Cost of living increases for the next five years. I'm so happy I stayed here for 70 years.Lol

Leanbean, I graduated a bit prior to you from WHS (valley road). Your first post above in the list of responses is right on target. We have allowed ourselves to to believe that we NEED all of the "support" staff in schools--because those functions are not performed at HOME. We have allowed the "system" to legislate behavior and not encourage self-reliance and accountability. Poor Mr. Van D; he pretty much did it all. And, of course there was Mr. Ludwig, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Krause, Mr. Doman, and Miss Cap who did more than their share to help us.

Actually taxes went "pretty well" until 1982/83 when Govenor Kean used the line item veto of the States Annual Appropiations Act ( or State Budget ) to Skim 32 million of the Public Utility Gross Receipts and Franchise Tax that was intended to be returned to the muncipalities. The State records indicate from that point on, State budgets all have an annual diversion that dedicates a portion of "collected tax" which is funneled to some other State funded swill. In the past decade or so it total's around 4 billion. This is how " sharing the wealth " works. The State is balancing it's own budget with municipal revenues. This avoids the State from increasing it's own state taxes, and off-sets the need to cut it's own programs. By doing so, they "bridge the gap" by adding new reforms that keeps the money out of the towns, villages, boroughs, and townships. For them (us) NO TAX INCREASE means no STATE RELIEF, which, as you know, is something we were waiting to add to our own current budget. It's our money...well, it's supposed to be our money !!! As it stands we're forced to raise our property taxes so they don't have to in order to fund "they're own" programs.

I will run if Leanbean and Nose run with me.

Having seen so many talks, I am wondering if anyone is going to walk the walk.

November results will tell. Vote out incumbents. Keep voting out incumbents. No taxation without representation.

Then why is everyone letting the BOE have all the fun ? Create a BOARD of SUSTAINABILITY. Elect a governing body and Nominate Victor as President.
Order of Action: Divide participanting students into GREEN TEAMS. Allocate a portion of every school for GARDENING. Provide credit courses from the DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE. Sign onto certification programs offered in NJ like the Sustainability Institute at the College of New Jersey, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Surdina Foundation, BPU, PSEG Waste Management of New Jersey, New Jersey Food Council EcoMatters, United Water etc.
Apply for grants to place copper gutters at all of the schools to collect usable rain water, grants to replace our schools antiguated windows w/ new energy efficient windows, use appropriated space for wind turbines, designate lots of our newly aquired "buy out" properties for agrigculture and buildings to house water/electric generation plants and facilities. Utilize our school tax money for the teachers with degrees in Agriculure, Environmental Science, Economics, and Business.
By using what resourses are available to our community already, why not incorporate a complete program where the students can collect and recycle plastic, alumimum and other ferrous metals, as well as cooking oils and other fuels, plant gardens that provide vegetables for the entire community, including resturants.
cont.

Hire shop teachers that have true mechanical backgrounds in machinery, engine repair, tool making. We could use the Buildings and land that are the Van Riper House not only as a garden, but for a forge foundry to make tools such as rakes, shovels, pick-axes etc.
In a short time we can reclaim portions of our open space and re title the property for "farm use- exempt ".
We can do this with grants and Federal and State funding. We can build sustainable public schools that are no long dependent of Education Boards that are as antiquated as the system it evolves around.
The Sustainability Board can provide an education course study program from K-12, providing everything from starting plants in milk containers, to building a thermal Geoelectric sub station.
WAYNE Public Schools would finally be on a course that properly prepares their students for "the next level".
But, this will never happen because it wouldn't cost anything, and that's NOT ALLOWED !!!

Leanbean

Sorry to read about your night blindness. Take care of yourself.

Packanack, How dare you call me negative? I am not the one approving the ridiculous BOE Budget increases that are affecting the majority of the community. MILLIONS were cut? Should I care when the BOE clique does not care about the majority of Wayne residents? The residents should pay for "your" vision of how the students should be educated? Here's a novel idea, pay for your own child's education. Then you will be happy with the results. Don't expect the town residents to pay for student's superfluous educational wants when they are concerned about their own discretionary spending. As far as Gonzalez is concerned, once again, a truly competent leader would not need to immediately surround himself with additional NEW high paid administrators (at taxpayer cost) that he will eventually throw under the bus when things go south. A true leader is able to lead.

J.V.....your ideas are certainly compelling. I like very much like the idea of sustainability being taught to our children, not only through words and books, but also by deeds. Victor is a true treasure and a gift. He certainly should be involved in all this in some capacity. I do hope in some way you can get our BOE to look at this concept and pursue it to some degree.

Packanack, you must be breathing the fumes coming off the "muck" in "Packamuck Lake".You really think we are doing better and heading in the right direction ? And where are these "Millions" you say the BOE (BIG OVERSPENDING EDUCATORS) gets cut every year ? According to my calculation, every year the budget "GOES UP" by millions so don't go there about the cuts. I went all through the Wayne school system (K-12) with half of what we are paying now. OH, and Justice, you have my vote. Who NOSE, maybe I'll be your running mate and we can both fix this broken system.

School enrollment will be dropping. As reported in The Record, there has been a 15 to 30% drop in children under 5 in Wayne. This translates into less students and less cost. The BOE needs to make cuts and try for once getting by with 0% increase. But when you have a BOE that caters to the WEA and a school system that has to have the best of everything what you get is Spending & Hiring that is out of control. The new Super came from Paterson a failing District that is full of fianancial waste and nepotism galore. The BOE needs to be more concerned with the struggles of the taxpayers in this Township then all the careless spending and useless programs they are always coming up with. Many excellent school systems have gotten by with a 0 % increase in spending. Why not Wayne? The new Middle School just wasn't needed but they built it any way. Enrollment wiil drop and there will be excess clasroom space in the coming years. Also the administrative side can be cut its very top heavy.

Gonzalez hails from Hackensack, an urban district with many problems. Gonzalez brought a sidekick from Paterson, another urban district with a host of problems including gangs and drugs. Do we have gangs and drugs in Wayne? Does anyone Nose?

Justice, you would be surprised what goes on in this town. How come in the middle of the night, a robbery last week in which employees were robbed of $30,000 never made the paper. And how come a person was robbed and beaten walking home from a store right next to police headquarters ? NOSEbody NOSE because this town doesn't want to have a "urban district" image.

Obama gets blamed for everything; therefore Gonzalez gets blamed for everything. Simple.

First thing Gonzalez did when he "settled" in to Wayne was to remodel the administration building that included a "secret soundproof room" so that they can have their "don't let this get out" meetings to a tune of several thousand dollars. So he says that famous saying "How am I doing" ?

Do we have a contractor and invoice? It is illegal to have this done.

Gonzalez is the wrong person period.

His pathetic lack of experience. As respects to communications it comes from the PR company which he hired and charged the Bank of Wayne Taxpayers LLC. I am certain that every word is veted by the law firm HR hired from Hackensack and charged to the Bank of Wayne Taxpayers LLC. Furthermore, these alleged communicationd are not sent to all the shareholders of the Bank of Wayne Taxpayers LLC. It appears that he is violating his fiduciary responsibities in addition to all his other gross failings. Who hired him? The BOE who has committed election rigging amongst other ethical misdeeds.

Typo.law firm he Gonzalez hired.

Do a FOAA request

Hey Jack, why don't you go there and ask your buddy Mr.Gonzalez to see the room for yourself ? I NOSE it's there because I have seen it myself and all the new construction and furniture in the building.Don't forget to get downstairs in the offices. They really went all out with our tax dollars.

Well said Jack. Most of the complaining comes from folks that don't currently or never had kids in the school system. They are just not happy about paying any $ for a school system. See Leanbean's comments above.

Agreed, in my opinion it's just hyperbole. I have had 3 kids in the Wayne school system. One is out in a excellent university, couldn't be happier the other two have a few more years in Wayne's school system.

Wayne, I went and my family all went through the Wayne school system. The waste that I see going on today is just disgraceful. Sure, you walk down the hallway and see everything nicey nice, just not happy about paying "thousands" of dollars so a few people can have secret meetings without anyone hearing on how our "tax dollars" are getting spent Do we also have to renovate the board building every time we get a new administrator ? I think not.. I'm all for the children, I was one once in this school system

I hear you Nose. Hard to argue against what you are saying. But. I'm in the corporate world, when a new CEO comes in, there are changes. In 3rd party vendors, employees, and yes even rennovations. People don't like change. Boards as well as shareholders are aware of this. Certainly there has to be transparency in the public domain. However, for some reason many people didn't like this guy before he even started. Maybe they are right, maybe not, but he should be given some time to prove himself and allowed to have meetings in privacy. Certianly we are not privy to every meeting in congress.

Wayne Resident, I suggest that you wipe the snot off your face before you start telling your elders, especially Military Vets, to move to Florida. If it wasn't for Military Vets, you wouldn't have the choices to have children, whose your demand for extra WANTS in the educational system have become a burden to taxpayers.

How are you concluding that most of the griping comes from childless households? What are you basing that assumption on?
Take your WANTS for your children and PAY for them yourself, the old-fashioned way, EARN IT, not through entitlements from property taxes.

Why don't you answer your own question: "Jack Q
43 minutes ago
It gets to the point where you constantly read Hackensack, Paterson, urban district, and you have to start wondering what do people really mean?"

Where are the statistics that correlate housing prices to supposedly good school systems? It sounds like some tall tale a realtor gave you to close the sale of a home.

I cannot put down the teachers or the schools in this town. The problem is this school system is way to "top heavy" and NOSEbody seems to want to do anything about it. Lean, I don't have kids in the system and I think it is the State of Delaware that once your children are out of school, you don't have to pay "school tax" any longer. Maybe that is what they should do here and see how fast things get "trimmed" at the top ?

Hey Justice - I will wipe the snot off my face when you get a clue on what you are talking about. And why would you think I am speaking unfavorably of vets, of which my father and grandfather are members of?

Let the school system go to he**, watch how many new families come to Wayne. Justice you are an idio*

Oh and justice, I pay my fair of taxes at the federal, state, and local level at a rather high marginal rate, but I'm not complaining. You sound like an old bitter man.

WR. You just proved my point. I noticed you didn't admit to Veteran status. You are a snot nosed entitlement person with no respect for your elders. Everyone pays taxes. I just wonder how many deductions you took that the IRS audit would slam you for? The Wayne BOE is out of control and I shouldn't have to pay for your wants. The constitution does not gu

Guarantee an extensive education. Just a basic one. You pay for the extras.

Hey Justice, I was too young for vietnam unless you would have a 8 to 10 year old in uniform. I'm not entitled, I work hard for everything I have. Plenty of respect for my olders, just not loud mouthed ones that attack me. And you answered my question...you sound like a very bitter man. Pay for my wants??? what do I want? you seem to know everything. I want a good education for my kids. That eduction is paid for from my taxes. If you don't want to pay for school taxes (or taxes in general), then don't. I won't visit you in jail.

Seems like some of you are missing the point. I don't think anyone wants to see our kids not get a rightful education. The problem is the "administration" is out of control and is on a spending frenzy with our hard earned tax money that just seems to grow and grow with NOSE ending in sight. Until our "administration" gets a grip and remembers we are in a recession and starts cutting back, it will stay business as usual.

You weren't to young for the gulf, Iraq or just plain old service. I am the one attacked for daring to question the exorbitant taxes and choices made by our non ethical trustees. It is my first amendment right to speak but you take offense. I must have pressed your buttons. Be careful the IRS doesn't audit you.

Nose. To the point. Well said.

Justice - are you the person that the SWAT team surrounded on Indian Road for not paying their taxes? Mind your own business. I never attached you personally, didn't even mention your name.

I chose a different career other than the service. Don't attack me for not joining a service. As I said - you are very bitter man, excercise your 1st ammnedment rights, I will do the same.

WR. Excessive property taxes are my business. You are the one who attacked me. You called me an idiot. I detect guilt at not having served.

Justice - hah, now you are a shrink. And you do appear to be an idiot.

WR. What is your IQ? Are you a Mensan? Do you even know what that is?

Justice, ok, now you have me smiling.

WR. You are the one who told leanbean to move to Florida. Insulting all elders

WR. Smile your way to Florida and see how great an education your children receive.

I suggested to Leanbean (and who assigned you as his advocate) that if he didn't want to pay real estate taxes, Florida has plenty of communities for 55+ for whom their RE taxes do not go to school systems.

And an insult to leanbean is an insult to all elders? where is that logic from? If I assume your logic, since I am Gen X, when you insult me, you insult all Gen Xers...makes no sense. jeez, I was only kidding about your IQ, but you might have a real issue. see your doc

I see by the looks of it we have some very talented people on here. Won't have to stay at a Holiday Inn tonight with all this information I took in today.

WR. No one assigned me as LeanBean's advocate. As a military man, LeanBean can certainly take care of himself without any advocates. However, I will not tolerate any military or elder to be bullied. Simple as that. WR, it was not a suggestion, it was a put down and you know it. Your quote: "Most of the complaining comes from folks that don't currently or never had kids in the school system. They are just not happy about paying any $ for a school system. See Leanbean's comments above."
That is a gross assumption on your part without any stats to back that up. It is an insult to those who you directed that comment to. You were not kidding about IQ. You know enough to add lol or expressly indicate if you are kidding. You go see your doc and get those meds filled. Seems like you may need it.

WR. I have never been audited. Can you say the same?

Sure can genius

Took you long enough to do the research.

What. Just finished dinner with family. Kids homework. You at the local bar?

You only wish.

Have a good evening.

You also

Wayne Resident, Let me give you some history. I never went to college. When I started work it was for $1 an hour. Working part time at the A&P in the Preakness shopping center. Then I went to work in construction for $1.25 an hour. If your father wasn't in a union? You couldn't get into one back the. They were mostly all Father Son unions I got drafted in 1964. After I got out I went back to construction. $2.50 an hour. I forgot to tell you. My pay when I got drafted was $69 a month. 1974 I went to work with Wayne as a Laborer for $6,900 a yr. plus ot. I got a part time job for 11 yrs. to make ends meet tending bar nights. I retired in 2002 because of medical reasons. And I pay my health Ins. every month myself. Being single I paid a higher tax rate. With what I was making with both jobs I could afford to buy a house in Hoffmans Grove. I lost that house and everything in it in 1984's flood. In 1986 I bought a home that came on 2 trailers. It took me a year working nights and weekends tofinish it off. I never had a silver spoon shoved up my but. I always paid my way. But it seems now that you would love to see me lose it all because of the high school taxes. That won't stop going up. Let me make it clear. I don't get a pension like the police do. FAR FROM IT.

Leanbean. I truly do appreciate hearing that. Helps to get some perspective. I wish there was an easy answer. We both live in the same town but both have different needs , wants and uses for our tax $. Believe me the last thing I would want is for you to lose anything.

Very well said bean, I have NOSED you for years and am glad you told people out there what this town was like back in the day and what people earned back then.People think because we grew up during that time we are all living high on the hog. Thanks for the history lesson and setting some people straight bean.