Dear Editor:
I attended the March 12th meeting at City Council addressing the $100M of Abbott Funds, which are to be granted to Hoboken by the state. These funds are in addition to the $45M school budget as stated in the March 2nd edition of the Hoboken Reporter. If 65 percent of the school budget is funded directly by local taxes (according to the NJ Dept. of Education website) then as Hoboken taxpayers we are contributing over $29M to our schools. In light of the results posted on the NJ State Report Cards and number of students that attend our schools, we need to look at how any dollars are being spent. From the meeting on Monday, it seems from the School Board’s comments and the Mayor’s that ironically they are again in support of development versus the needs of the children that attend our schools.
In the upcoming school board elections, we will vote for three candidates to serve as part of a nine person volunteer board, and on the proposed budget.
I am recommending that Hoboken residents vote, “No” to this year’s budget. I have not seen the budget, and don’t know the particulars, but I do know that with our declining eocnomy and soaring city budget, we need more sets of eyes looking at it. There is no city department, service or project that should not be viewed closely considering the history of this town’s spending and where it has lead us. Residents of Hoboken have not had access to budgets and now we have a $62.6M city budget, so possibly, and I admit pessimistically, I suspect that the same inflation could be true of the school budget. If the budget were to be voted down, then it would go to City Council for review and give the public time to understand how the budget is being spent. I have requested a copy of the budget and hope to post it for viewing soon.
The school board makes it own budget, the public really hasn’t been involved enough, which is something we need to change. The budget is also not finalized and is not expected to until maybe two weeks before elections. So until we can view the budget and understand if it meets the needs of the children, our community and is within our capabilities to support, I think we should say “No.” A “No” gives us more time and will justify the dollars or allow us to make changes.
I urge you to break tradition this April 15th and vote in the school board elections and to vote on its budget. We as residents, taxpayers, parents and responsible citizens have to stop the train of spending this town has become accustomed and demand better for our children.
Stephanie Colello
WakeUpHoboken.com