Taxes

[anon-00q5]

[anon-2ooq]

Moving here for the school is an excellent idea. Unfortunately a part of that is the overwhelming number of folks who do that are here until their children are out of school. The revolving members of our communiy continue to want want want and then move away and leave the rest of us with the bill. for example--Pari Stave, Michael Mayes, Richard Stannard, Becky Beureaugard, David Stout etc. When that happens the long haulers are left with the bills. Just wait and you will see Ferrante and Scott do the same thing. These things like ball fields and school expansions are left to be paid for by folks who no longer have children in the school system. My children have been out of school for 30 plus years. We were hood winked into an expansion of the school so that we could have a "community center". Well once the addition was built they added $300,000. for furniture and we never were allowed the use of that room except on rare occasions. Now the Library was jammed down our throats and we will pay to maintain it forever. It will be a cash eating liability in perpetuity. There are wants we DO NOT need and this 18 million dollar expansion is not a need.The Four Seasons folks could help to defeat it and I hope they vote it down. This will be voted on in a silent way on an off day and only the promoters of this "want" will be responsible to have a very limited vote in their private club. There should be a majority vote necessary of at least 65% of residents in favor in order for this to be fair to the taxpayers.

[anon-41rn]

I think people are confusing wants and needs. Not all spending is a want and not all spending is a need. And most in support have kids in the school and moved here for the school.

To those who want something and benefit it is a need, but is it a need for most residents even those in the kids to approve the entire spending bill? Police, Fire and EMS are needs as are roads. A bike path system is a want. A zoo is a want. Life can go on quite well without any of those things.

People say it is only an extra 200 a year, but the library people said it was only an extra 100 a year and the bike paths an extra 100. That all adds up on top of the escalating taxes for operating. And I have not yet seen the school say here is what the estimated tax will be for the average home owner which makes me wonder why.

For the school an updated cafeteria is a need. Kids need to eat and the equipment must be maintained. An outdoor seating area with limited seating for lunch which the school on parents night said was in response to an ask by kids, a glass atrium for science class and hydroponics and a performing arts center so people can sit in theater chairs instead of fold out chairs is a want. But the school is smart by packaging them all together like the DC politicians.

We are not a 50k resident town like other towns who have those things and our school performs very well without them. If those are what’s important when deciding to buy a house then people would not have chosen Cranbury with South Brunswick and West Windsor having them already. So our home values will not fall if this is not approved. We will still be very attractive.

To those saying someone paid for others kids that is true. But Cranbury paid for other kids with base expenses. The biggest question mark on spending was just the large group room. people mostly agreed the need for a new gym and more classroom space.

People will still move here for the school because we have a small school system, Princeton and good teachers. None of that changes if people still attend the 2 concerts a year and sit on a folding chair or there are not 5 tables outside for eating lunch. Most students do not do the school play or talent show and classes no longer do class plays so the auditorium is used less today than it was 20 -40 years ago.

[Anon-s288]

[anon-00q5]

[Vote NO-s02s]

Almost time to vote down this ridiculous spending plan! Help keep Cranbury taxes in check!

[anon-opr0]

[anon-7666]

I have lived here for 30 years. I wonder if they consider the school events like PTO and Board of Ed. It used to be the TC would have 2-3 mtgs a year there and candidates night. The school charges for custodial staff so people are not paying for that. In the 300 number could it be those who also wanted the room and then found it too costly?

If the room is that used then why did the library need to have a community space?

[Guest 12438-psor]

I’ve lived in town longer than most, and I have always supported a school budget targeted towards instructional expenses. The school cafeteria and kitchen are totally outdated, and I can go along with improvements to classrooms and technical advancements. I am very disappointed in the school board for including the performance arts “center” in this referendum. The cost is expected to be more than half of the estimated $18 million. This should have been a separate expense consideration, in my opinion.

[anon-non5]

If the budget fails it does not stop all the work. This is not all or nothing. Just like in DC. The vote is no, the BOE goes back and cuts all the extras. Then presents a proposal for the key items. Plus, given construction costs and inflation now is not the time to do any building anyway.

[6 days to go to vote-1qq3]

6 days to go to vote no!

[anon-ro3o]

How much in matching $$$ will be lost if the vote in no?

[It's all tax $$-s02s]

Matching funds still come from taxes. Nothing is free!

[anon-opr0]

[anon-ro3o]

[Guest]

In NJ if the school budget fails to pass it goes to the township committee to review. The township committee (hopefully in consultation with the school board) may cut some budget items or simply approve the budget as originally presented.