'Edison School district Will Pay Township Nearly $1Million for School Security!?!

Well, saw this piece here in Tap into Edison. Sign of the times no doubt but geez, can we give Mayor Tom 'Now 17.1% but Won't Debate' ChoiLankey and his Band of Processing Clerks a Big Oink..Oink?

Apparently, the 7 Processing Clerks..aka Edison Council approved a contract with the Edison Board of Mythomania to hire 20 Class III-Special Law Enforcement Officers (SLEO) who will supplement the 25 full time security officers and new Security Chief they already hired.

'Under the agreement, the Township requires the School District to pay the officer's hourly rate, two separate administrative fees, purchase four fully equipped new vehicles, and fully reimburse the Township for training, uniforms and equipment. The estimated annual cost is nearly $1 million.'

'According to the Mayor's office, the Board of Education will be required to pay the Township $3,186 per day - or $573,500 for the 180-day school year - for the Class III-Special Law Enforcement Officers. This includes a 10% administration fee to the Township and a 7.75% administration fee to XTRA Duty, a third-party administrator.'

Seems both the Township and County Prosecutors office both refused to drop the administrative fees. 'The 7.75% administrative fee to XTRA Duty was imposed by the County Prosecutor's office to guard against such (previous) abuse according to sources within the Board of Education familiar with the negotiations between the Township and the School District.'

Lowlights:

• Seems the 7.75% fee is actually 8.53% since it's on the hourly rate plus the 10% Township fee.
• 4 new fully equipped vehicles - 2019 Ford Fusions or their equivalent - costing the District up to $100,000.00.
• Paying for state-mandated school resource officer training course - cost of equipment, training, and operations  - $100,000.00.
• Reimburse the Township for the cost of uniforms and equipment including radios - may cost up to an additional $30,000.00
• the new Class III Special Law Enforcement Officers will be under Police Chief Thomas Bryan's command.

'According to the Mayor's office, the school district will actually benefit from the $1 million agreement. Initial estimates show the Board of Education would save $356,500 annually, according to Business Administrator Maureen Ruane. The School district may see even greater savings once the plan is implemented during the upcoming school year, Ms. Ruane added.'

Wow, really Ms. Ruane? What Savings?

When was the last time anyone ever saw a 'Savings' from the Board of Mythomania? A 'Savings' to the taxpayers can only happen when the tax rate goes down. A reduction in a tax increase is NOT a Savings, it's still a tax increase - and that's what you get when you just repurpose money to another budget line.

Geez, who negotiates these contracts?

Oh..silly me!

But hey, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that the Township found a way to squeeze the taxpayers for some more money on top of the 8.53% penalty we're paying for their previous administrative performance.