By: centraljersey.com
Just after the November 2009 election and well before Gov. Chris Christie took office I spoke to the Princeton Regional Schools Board of Education and immediately thereafter wrote a letter to the editor, plus a letter to Superintendent Judith Wilson, related to what I called "shared sacrifice" needed. This was before Gov. Christie nominated his commissioner and coined the term "shared sacrifice" in addressing the implementation of what NJEA and others called draconian measures impacting students and teachers.
Well over a year later, there have been few truly forthcoming steps by those in New Jersey’s education establishment to address the cost-per-student or expense side of the ledger. Increased income from taxes, debt, or even private sources simply will not be there. There have been some excellent but isolated steps taken in reducing future costs in salaries and benefits, but the scale is merely nibbling around the edges. Never forget that over 80 percent of the cost are salaries and benefits.
Perhaps the best example close to home is the Montgomery case where district employees are starting to step up to their responsibility as civil servants, as well as taxpayers, to restore some balance and fairness in the context of overall employee compensation in the economy as a whole, both public and private sectors. As an aside, it is perhaps informative of the attitudes and mindset of the teacher’s union that they offered to cut their compensation much less than what was demanded of service workers if privatization of their positions was to be avoided.
To quote from my letter published on Dec. 29, 2009, "Some urgent ‘shared sacrifice’ actions … Renegotiate all contracts with public sector employee unions, suppliers, service contractors, medical and legal professionals. It’s happening big time in the private sector. Shared sacrifice by civil servants of whatever kind in foregoing raises, step increases … "
If even Social Security retiree COLAs can be eliminated and Medicare premiums and co-pays increased what is being asked of the education establishment, much less offered, is not draconian. A 5 percent cut across the board in bottom line salaries and benefits for all in New Jersey public education would probably solve all our financial problems without impacting students, and then require only generally accepted practices in management, fiscal planning and auditing to deal with annual vetting of school district budgets for performance measures, priorities and related cost-effectiveness.
John Clearwater Princeton Township
Taxpayers getting short end from township government
To the editor:
In the court of public opinion, the taxpayers of West Windsor are getting the short end of the "I think, I feel, I believe" form of government from its township and school district.
A reduction in township management staff is long overdue. The school administration is top heavy. Municipal and educational spending must be cut.
Concurrently, public employees need to contribute significantly more toward their health and pension benefits to mirror the private sector. Simple in theory. It is tantamount to newfound revenue. How can administrators and unions see three to five years into the future by committing taxpayers to unsustainable wage and benefit increases when costs consistently exceed tax revenues?
Whenever there is a tax increase in West Windsor (as opposed to Hamilton Township’s and Princeton Borough’s no tax increase for several years), it is a mini-bankruptcy. It is no wonder there is plenty of money in this municipality for land purchases, unbridled Arts Council support, no-bid professional service contracts for its lawyers, planners, engineers and consultants. West Windsor has been the poster child for profligate spending.
While West Windsor squanders its goodwill debating the size of a $75,000 shopping center sign (four Planning Board meetings), Plainsboro Township is completing construction of a $450,000,000 medical center.
The West Windsor Township budget was due Jan. 1 (statutorily on Jan. 15) but the incessant excuse and refrain for the continuing resolutions remains: "We don’t know how much state aid we will receive." Read my fingers: calculate zero state aid and budget accordingly.
Pete Weale West Windsor
Tax form checkoff aids spay-neuter program
To the editor:
New Jersey taxpayers can show their concern for our companion animals when they file their state income tax returns in 2011.
For the first time, the tax forms will provide an opportunity to make a painless donation to the state’s Animal Population Control program, a low-cost spay-neuter program operated by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
The APC program contracts with hundreds of veterinarians across the state to provide surgeries at minimal cost, $20 for adopted pets and $10 for those owned by people on public assistance. Since its inception more than 25 years ago, the program has surgically altered about 100,000 cats and dogs and is credited with dramatically reducing the euthanasia rate in New Jersey’s shelters.
To date, the only funding sources have been a $3 surcharge on dog licenses and the sale of "animal friendly" license plates. The tax check-off will provide additional funding for more surgeries, so when you file your state tax return, please take a moment to check-off for the animals.
Barbara Wicklund Member New Jersey Domestic Companion Animal Council Montgomery

