You once had the right to vote on school taxes every April in Clinton Township. Remember?
Actually, you had that right for over 100 years, until the Clinton Township Board of Education (BOE) took it away from you in 2012.
At 7pm on Wednesday, August 10 you can get back your right again to vote on the biggest part of your tax bill: local schools.
You had the right to vote on school taxes
When they had the vote, Clinton Township taxpayers rejected the last 7 out of 8 school budgets because the proposed school spending was over the top and wasteful. (See Clinton Twp budget rejected: Board has no credibility.) Under the law, when voters reject school budgets, the Clinton Township Mayor and Council have the power to reduce the school tax.
During 2006-2008, that’s exactly what the Council did 3 years in a row when voters rejected school budgets. It cut millions worth of waste and administrative spending by the schools — without cutting a penny out of teachers, the classroom, or instructional materials. (Teachers even supported the action because it helped re-route school funds back into the classroom — because many of them were paying for school supplies out of their own pockets!)
As a result, the average homeowner in Clinton Township saves over $1,000 per year in school taxes, every year, forever.
Not any more!
But in 2012 years ago the school board eliminated school tax elections — without asking taxpayers! This was permitted by Governor Christie in a bid to gain political backing.
The result? School spending in Clinton Township K-8 is out of control. The BOE used to spend about $11,000 per child per year. Now they spend over $19,000 per child. And they keep spending more!
Over 400 kids have left Clinton Township schools —more than the population of any of the 4 schools. (See Clinton Township needs to be serious about school consolidation.) But the BOE refuses to even consider closing a school building to reduce our taxes. It just keeps spending more! (See 26 Questions.)
What you can do
At the Wednedsay, August 10 (7pm) Council Meeting, you can tell the Mayor and Council you want back your right to vote on school taxes again!
LOCATION:
Public Safety Building (Court & Police Dept.)
1370 Route 31 North
Annandale, NJ 08801
At this public meeting, the Mayor and Council will decide whether to give you back your right to vote every April on school taxes.
They can reinstate your right to vote on August 10, by a simple resolution.
Playing politics
But in a game of politics, the Mayor & Council are spinning a story and talking about passing the buck.
Instead of just doing the right thing and reinstating school tax elections, they’re planning a “referendum” to ask you to vote on whether you want back your right to vote.
Sheesh! You can’t make this stuff up! Do they really think anyone doesn’t want back the right to vote on taxes?
We know the school board is afraid of taxpayers voting on school taxes. Are the Mayor & Council afraid of letting you vote again on school taxes?
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