The Mayor held a press conference (2 reporters attended) on Monday, 3/26 prior to the Town Council meeting. In that press conference the Mayor stated that the Town finished 2005 with a deficit and that figures just released for 2006 shows a $1.5 million for the year. According to the Mayor the new surplus is $5.7 million. Something just doesn't add up. If you finished the prior year in the negative, as the Mayor claims, and then add $1.5 million to that negative, you should come up with a number less than $1.5 million. However, in the same statement the Mayor indicates that by adding the $1.5 million to the prior surplus of $4.2 million we now have a total surplus of $5.7 million. Which is it Mayor, or does it matter how you want to use the statements to your benefit? Maybe this administration uses one statement when it suits their needs and the other when they can reap the benefits and claim the glory. We can only assume the Mayor used the same math when claiming he was facing a 25% tax increase that he magically worked down to zero.
Admin wrote: He says that payment comes out of the 2007 budget and the payment was made around the end of January.
Since the town was able to run a $1.5M surplus in 2006, enough money was saved to handle the $1.2M payment to the school in what we now see was a highlu successful bailout plan which has cumlminated in the school now charging Waterford properly and saving the Hammonton taxpayers millions of dollars.
Admin wrote: He says that payment comes out of the 2007 budget and the payment was made around the end of January.
Since the town was able to run a $1.5M surplus in 2006, enough money was saved to handle the $1.2M payment to the school in what we now see was a highlu successful bailout plan which has cumlminated in the school now charging Waterford properly and saving the Hammonton taxpayers millions of dollars.
A surplus occurs when the years is over. That's when you do the final total. There was a surplus at the end of 2005 which was used to cover the 2006 purchase. The surplus you quote for 2006 can be used in 2007. You're trying to reinvent history.
You are mistaken, the deal was worked out in 2006 but the payment to the school did not occur until January , 2007. The Mayor himself said this during the news conference. It was also reported that way in the Tuesday, 2/27 Atlantic City Press. Region section, Page C5 and I quote, "The town already made a $1.2 million payment to the school district in January as part of a package designed last summer to bail the schools out of a massive deficit." The timing still works for the school budget because their year runs from July 1 to June 30.
Admin wrote: You are mistaken, the deal was worked out in 2006 but the payment to the school did not occur until January , 2007. The Mayor himself said this during the news conference. It was also reported that way in the Tuesday, 2/27 Atlantic City Press. Region section, Page C5 and I quote, "The town already made a $1.2 million payment to the school district in January as part of a package designed last summer to bail the schools out of a massive deficit." The timing still works for the school budget because their year runs from July 1 to June 30.
The Admin is correct. The money from the general fund was paid in January 2007. So essentially, the Town saved up enough money during 2006 to cover the school bailout plan. Thus, no money that was used to help the school came from money the town had prior to this Mayors term in office.
We all need to accept that we have to work together. With this bailout plan along with acccurately charging Waterford their tuition, the school is finally on the right track towards financial stability. Add to that extra funding from the State and it becomes a home run for both the Hammonton taxpayer as well as the Hammonton students.
It still doesn't make sense to use taxpayer money to purchase land we already own.
We, the taxpayers, essentially paid for the middle school land twice.
How is that a homerun for the taxpayer? We got screwed again.
Wasn't the money used in that school deal that same money that the Republicans had in surplus?
Town saved up enough money during 2006 to cover the school bailout plan Hammonton First, out of their own ignorance, is going to cost us that grant for a community center by trying to use it to cover the historic building, which is still an eye sore. It will end up costing the taxpayer more money to move that building, just so Hammonton First can have it their way. Not to mention how much over budget the town hall project will be. We are going to be paying for this for generations.
It looks like the financial turn around plan the Mayor put in place for the schools worked beautifully. The School's Finance Committee Chairperson even announced that the school will pay the town back for the $1.2M bailout without raising taxes.
So in the end, all the money will be returned WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
Last year, the taxpayers were protected from a big tax increase by the efforts of the Mayor. This year, there is no tax increase. Next year, Waterford owes even MORE money to Hammonton.
This turnaround finally has given the taxpayers the tax stability they deserved. On the municipal side, there was no tax increase last year and the Mayor has already announced he is challenging council to repeat that this year.
This is a positive result to all the efforts made. For years, no one else was able to get these results. Now, taxpayers can breath easier!
Oh yes, isn't it wonderful!!! What in the world would we ever do without the Mayor and the FOC'ers? They charged the taxpayers a second time for land they already owned, and that now turns out to be a one year loan. But that's it. They did not help to put any plan together. The school found out on their own that the previous Business Administrator had screwed up the bills to Waterford and the school board are the ones who have done all the work in the last year to get that money back. And now that the state has admitted that they have not lived up to their legal responsibilities for the past 5 years, they gave the district a significant increase in state aid. We are all happy that the school district seems to be turning the corner and putting itself back on the right track. We are all happy that there will not be a school tax increase this year. But we will not stand for HF grandstanding once again and claiming praise for themselves for doing very little. That's all they have been about since they have been voted in. They have claimed all the credit for the hard work done by predecessors. Congratulations to the Board of Education and the new BA Barbara Prettyman for putting together a budget with no tax increase for the Hammonton tax payers.
yes, It seems the Firsters are taking credit because Corzine is increasing Hammonton's state aide. Our school adminstartors and current school board has been working tirelessly to do everyting they can to make sure they can provide a quality education with as little tax hike as possible, and they are doing a wonderful job of it. Hammonton First is a disgrace for trying to take credit for their hard work.
That land / lease deal that the FOC'ers came up with only hurt the town and the school district in the long run. Not only that, but it never addressed the real problem - a permenant solution to cope with the reduced state aide. It was a one time band aide, that would of eventually sank the school district if it wasn't for the great efforts of our Board and administrators.
Ms. Prettyman, and the school board deserve a ton of credit. Hopefully we now can get rid of Costa and put Barbara Berenato in there. Then the entire board can work together for the best interest of this town!
Anonymous wrote: It looks like the financial turn around plan the Mayor put in place for the schools worked beautifully. The School's Finance Committee Chairperson even announced that the school will pay the town back for the $1.2M bailout without raising taxes.
So in the end, all the money will be returned WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
Last year, the taxpayers were protected from a big tax increase by the efforts of the Mayor. This year, there is no tax increase. Next year, Waterford owes even MORE money to Hammonton.
This turnaround finally has given the taxpayers the tax stability they deserved. On the municipal side, there was no tax increase last year and the Mayor has already announced he is challenging council to repeat that this year.
This is a positive result to all the efforts made. For years, no one else was able to get these results. Now, taxpayers can breath easier!
The naysayers hate the fact that the turn around plan the Town put in place for the school worked so well and so quickly. They are furious that the school found they were undercharging Waterford by $2.4M per year and that is the lion's share of the new revenue coming into the school.
The fact is this is a great win for the taxpayers and the town. A certain few naysayers are upset because they are bashing but people see no tax increases. For years in the school the taxes skyrocketed every year. Now that long period is finally over.
The teamwork between the Town and the School had really helped all Hammontonians!
The town did nothing to help the school in anyway.
The town should worry about its own problems. Let the elected school board members handle the school.
They seem to be doing a great job lately, and it is sick to think that Hammonton First is trying to take credit for the hard work and dediaction of the school board members and the school administration.
The new School Finance Committee chairperson, Steve DiDonato, and the new School Business Administrator, Barbara Prettyman, really turned things around at the school quickly! Finally we have some sanity in taxes from the school along with an expansion of education. The turnaround plan put in place last year really worked great!
Anonymous wrote: The new School Finance Committee chairperson, Steve DiDonato, and the new School Business Administrator, Barbara Prettyman, really turned things around at the school quickly! Finally we have some sanity in taxes from the school along with an expansion of education. The turnaround plan put in place last year really worked great!
Anonymous wrote: The new School Finance Committee chairperson, Steve DiDonato, and the new School Business Administrator, Barbara Prettyman, really turned things around at the school quickly! Finally we have some sanity in taxes from the school along with an expansion of education. The turnaround plan put in place last year really worked great!
