The E. Ramapo School board apparently feels that you are not being taxed enough. They recently proporsed a 22 million dollar 20 year bond issue for voter approval, scheduled for January 28. The vote however will not take place at that date. Unknown to most Monsey'ites, three individuals blocked the vote.
Citing irregularities in the propositon they were succeseful in getting a temporary stay from the State Education Department in Albany. The School board wants to spend the money on new roofs for most buildings, replacing oil tanks, buying new buses, fixing curbs and sidewalks, buying computers for the elementary Schools, refurbishing labs, installing new school lighting, and remodeling the auditoriums.
This is the height of chutzpa (arrogance). Why weren't the roofs replaced on a scheduled basis with annual operating funds? Why were they allowed to deteriorate this far. These building are a public trust. They should have been managed properly. How can the board jutify 20 year loans when the roofs will last only 10 to 15 years? We will then pay for another set of roofs and still be paying off the proprosed roofs. The same applies to buses - they last 10 to 15 years.
Furthermore, why does E. Ramapo have to be in the bus business. It is cheaper to bid for routes from private companies. Most Rockland School districts do that. Private industry does a far better job and at a lower cost than government. This will also eliminate the need for teh bus garage, mainainace equipment, mechanics, fuel tanks, bus drivers on the public payroll (with the inherent higher cost contracts for salary and benefits), etc.
Most of the above can be said for the other proposed items. Most of these Titems must come out the annual operating budget. Only NON REOCURRING or items reocurring at plus 20 year levels should be paid by bonds, and for not more than the life of the item.
Why was the public not informed of this last May when the budget vote took placle. Is it because the administration held back teh information form the board. If so teh administration was neglegent and the board should fire the Superintendent of Schools and the Business Administrator. The question remains: why wasn't the public infirmed of this last May. Thse items took years to deteriorate. We should all demand answers.
For your own sake - oppose this if you are a taxpayer. This is a new back door method to increase your taxes even
further. If it's not stopped now, you will be paying for it for the next 20 years. Demand an accounting from the
School board. After all, we elected them.
Herman Friedman (one of the petitioners)