Dear Editor:
As the state has turned over jurisdiction of the JC schools back to local control, the unabated JC taxpayers are being forced to pay a greater share of the $619 million budget. For years activists such as myself have been complaining to the City Council to stop with the tax abatements since tax abated properties pay no school taxes. We knew this day would come.
Our school taxes will be going up another 10% effective with the new school budget, which begins July 1. The teachers have been without a contract since September 1, 2009. In light of state-wide cuts in state aid to schools, which impacted JC with a loss of $26 million and we were lucky, their demands are unconscionable. Demands for annual raises of 4.35 to 4.7% for a four year contract are unsupportable. This coming school year alone there will be probably over 300 layoffs plus a 10% tax increase. Governor Christie has stated that he’ll cut state aid even further if contracts with greater than 4% raises are awarded. Now JC taxpayers only pay about 16% of the budget. The lion’s portion of the school budget is paid by the state. We can’t afford to anger him and quite frankly if other school districts are renegotiating their contracts and teachers are agreeing to a 1 year salary freeze, why can’t Jersey City’s? Are we richer than Montclair and other suburbs, who are pretty fed up with carrying the Abbott Districts like Jersey City?
We need board members who will stand up to the teachers’ union like Jerry McCann (11A), who saved the JC unabated taxpayers $4 million in health insurance costs. By orchestrating the defeat of the contract, the teachers, under recently passed state law, will pay a measly 1.5% or on average $750 PER YEAR for their insurance. How much do you pay? For many families who get their insurance through their employers, that’s their MONTHLY share for family insurance.
My next choice is Sterling Waterman (3A) who regularly attends Board of Ed meetings so he has some idea what’s going on, unlike the other candidates. He’s a sincere parent who wants to do the best. Please vote April 20. Your financial health depends on it.
Mia Scanga, CPA
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