NJ Democratic Legislative Leaders Compromise on School Funding

Saw this piece here in nj1015.com about who Wins and Loses in the NJ School Funding compromise.

Says if the Democratic legislative leaders plan is enacted, then 379 districts would share $146 million for the school year that starts in September but 126 other districts would lose $46 million.

You should take a peek at the article. It's very interesting.

According to this piece, here's their data for what Middlesex County looks like, if enacted:

By County:

By Dollar Range:

Top 25 that Gain the Most:

Top 25 that Lose the Most:

You can go to the link above and see all school districts aid numbers or if you want this file, just drop me a note. You're welcome to it.

Where oh where is the 2017 Edison Muni Budget?!?

Well, not for nothing but the year is almost already half over and yet no word on what the 2017 Muni Budget looks like. Geez, how do you go six months into the calendar year without a budget?!?

We already know the Total Property Tax Rate for 2016 (includes Muni, School & County taxes) of $5.056 will be increased in 2017 by 5.6-Cents for the School tax increase, 3.4-Cents for the County tax increase and .001-Cent for the County Open Space tax.

That brings the Total Property Tax Rate for 2017 here in Downtown Edison up to $5.147 without the Muni & Library tax.

So, where's Mayor Tom 'Now 13.7%' ChoiLankey gonna take the 2016's Muni-tax rate of $1.269 this year - Up or Down?!?

Anyhoo, let's count the days until we can see the 2017 Muni Budget. Hopefully, we won't again have to get Estimated Property Tax Bills for August 2017. And, if the last 3 years history above is any example of the Council's review of Senior Lankey's 2017 budget, let's skip the dog & pony show of processing the mayor's paperwork. It's time well $pent - Not.

Not that it matters here in the 'DemBadLands" of Downtown Edison but..

Remember back in March when the County put out their 2017 Budget and had a piece in the HNT - 'Middlesex County 2017 Budget: $20 per household tax' (see March 6, 2017 post) - saying their tax increase would be less than 1% and Homeowners will pay about $20 more under their budget?

Well, just got the estimated 2017 County rates for the County tax and County Open Space tax from the Edison tax collector's office.

The estimated County tax for 2017 (Per 100) is .823, which is up .034 or 4.3% over 2016's rate of .789. If you live in that Mythical average home assessed at $178,300 - that's an increase of $60.62 for the County tax.

The estimated County Open Space tax for 2017 (Per 100) is .067, which is up .001 or 1.5% over 2016's rate of .066. If you live in that Mythical average home assessed at $178,300 - that's an increase of $1.78 for the County Open Space tax.

So, that's a total increase in County taxes of .035 or 4.1%. If you live in that Mythical average home assessed at $178,300 - that's an increase of $62.40 for County taxes in 2017.

Just an update for 2017 of the March 6, 2017 post showing the History of the County tax rate:

And let's not forget to give a Big round of applause to former Edison Councilman Charlie 'I Abstain' Tomaro (and now Deputy Dog of the Freeholders) for looking out for the People of Downtown Edison by continuing to $tabilize taxes.

Anyhoo, last time I looked, 4.3% is a tad bit more than Less than 1% and unless your house is assessed for $58,800 or less, then Your tax increase will be a tad bit more than $20.

Edison Dem Party Machine 1 0 People of Edison

Saw this piece here in InsiderNJ.com about the Local Dem Party's vote for Chairman. Shariq Ahmad defeats Chairman Keith Hahn by a vote of 71 to 70. Congratulations to the winner, I guess.

Not much of a fan on Edison's Local Dem Party Oligarchy but the article has some interesting narrative on how this came about. You should read it. Never could quite grasp how only some 156 committee people get to determine how a town of over 100,000 is run.

But I digress, so let's move on.

So, who is Shariq Ahmad? I don't know. Heard of him but never met him but that's not important.

But I do know he is the Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Rob 'Mr. Temper-a-Ment' Karabinchak, and I do remember him as the EDO's Greatest Failure.

Remember his acute attention to detail:

Ands his charming personalty:

Anyhoo, I'd say what a mess the dysfunctional Local Dem Party puts this town in with all their ongoing in-fighting and power struggles - but that would be redundant.

Edison Township Muni taxes - 10-Year History!

Well, while we wait for this year's Muni budget here in the 'DemBadlands' of Downtown Edison and Mayor Tom 'Now 13.7%' ChoiLankey's change to the 2016 Muni tax rate per hundred of 1.269 (muni tax rate 1.196 plus .073 library tax rate) - thought it might be helpful to stroll down memory lane to see how and who got us here.

This table only reflects the Muni tax rate for the last 10 years (Muni tax rate plus Library tax rate) from 2006 to 2016. It doesn't include the other Municipal taxes like the Muni 1-Cent Open Space tax that ended in 2013, the Garbage District tax or the Sewer tax.

So, if you want to see what your Muni taxes were and what the increase was for any year between 2006 and 2016, just enter your home's assessed value and then pick a year from 2006 to 2016.

Primary Day in the 'DemBadLands' of Downtown Edison tomorrow!

Well, as a Democrat here in Downtown Edison, don't usually vote in these primary thingies most times since they're usually uncontested. Seems the same this go-round where only the Governor, a couple of Freeholder spots and one of my District 31 Committee people are being contested.

However, I did receive a bunch of campaign fliers (why they continue to send me these thingies, I don't know) but hey, thought I would share some of them with you.

Seems Mayor Tom 'Now 13.7% ChoiLankey wants to continue the Dem Party Oligarchy with his flier du blah..blah..blah - but, more importantly, he sent out a personal note to all his friends in District 31 (and you didn't know he thinks every one's name in District 31 is 'friend).'

Seems Señor Lankey would like us to Vote for Nagel & Wise tomorrow.

Well, he's my thoughts on his choice of Steven Nagel for District 31 committeeman. I have lived in this District since Mr. Nagel took over the position and I have yet to see him, hear from him or even seen him walking around with any council or mayoral candidates when they're canvassing the neighborhood.

In fact, Councilman Patil came to my home alone when he was running for the council spot to let me know he was running and to make his case - which I truly appreciated and respected since I'm clearly not much of a local Dem Party fan.  No sign of our committeeman before, during or after Mr. Patil's visit.

So - Dear Friend:
        In response to your letter, please be assured that your letter inspires me to now get out and vote in this primary election to cast a write-in ballot for the District 31 committee spot. I will also vote for Sharon Glaser for the committee woman spot.

Given the above and seeing why you would want these committee people , it's hard for me to believe that your choices '..will always put our neighborhood 1st!'
Sincerely,

Ralph Bucci
Democrat, just not your kind

Anyhoo, get out and vote tomorrow and make your voice heard. There's always the write-in boxes!

Just an update - got the unofficial results from the Middlesex County elections results page this morning and here's the results by district in an excel file for mayor and council by district. It should be noted that the summary total for Edison Republicans shows total votes of 950, 871, 927 & 887 for Gaspari, Deutchman, Mascola & Orchid, respectively. If anyone wants the file, just drop me a note:

Edison Board of Mythomania's Retreat - O'Malley's Cha-Ching!?!

Well, looks like there's going to be board retreat on June 17, 2017 over there on Mythomania Lane to discuss Super Dr. Richard 'Looking for the Exit Ramp' O'Malley's performance bonus for the 2016-17 School Year!

Of course, you have to appreciate the transparency here. This June 17th meeting is scheduled smack in the middle of their caucus and action meeting for June 2017. Their caucus meeting is scheduled for June 14th and their action meeting on June 19th - which means it won't be discussed, talked about or even listed on the agenda for the June 14th caucus meeting for all to see and will only show up on the agenda for the June 19th action meeting, and who's going to miss the opportunity to publicly comment on their decision on June 19th?!?

And how much is that Check-a-Mundo going to be for the 2016-17 school year?

His current salary subject to the bonus is $212,334 and under his Safe Haven Contract he's entitled to a Max 10% Bonus or $21,233.40. 

He has two quantitative goals worth 50% of his Max 10% bonus and two qualitative goals worth the other 50%. His Special Ed quantitative goal is worth 33% and the Before/After School quantitative goal is worth 17%. His Visual Programming qualitative goal is worth 25% and the Mental Health goal is worth the other 25%.

You can see his approved Merit Goals for the 2016-17 school year in the November 17, 2016 post.

But hey, at least we're comforted in the knowledge that there's going to be fruit, danish or bagels to go with their coffee while they review Señor O'Malley's performance through tunnel-vision eyesight.