Bookerism of the day
Extend Key Property Tax Reform – Earn the Respect We Claim to Seek.
By Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon
When Gov. Christie came to office in 2010, he took action to address the biggest problem New Jerseyans have faced for decades – property taxes. Working with the Legislature, historic tax reforms were signed into law. These included a two percent limit on property tax levies, increased health and pension contributions by public employees and a two percent cap on awards arbitrators can grant when towns and their unions can’t agree on a contract.
These cost control tools are working. Recent property tax data shows the average property tax bill grew by 1.7 percent in 2013 and by the lowest consistent rate in decades since the reforms were passed. While our ultimate goal is to actually cut property taxes, slowing their growth is an essential first step.
The clock is now counting down to the destruction of the delicate framework that has successfully controlled our property taxes. An essential component of that framework – the arbitration award cap which enables local officials to control their largest costs – expired on April 1 of this year. The first contracts exempt from the cap will expire in June. That will be a disaster for property taxpayers throughout New Jersey. Without an honest and effective arbitration award cap, the property tax cap will fail.
The state’s interest arbitration cap law is one of the primary reasons we have turned the tide on the escalation of property taxes. According to the Public Employment Relations Commission, from January 2011 (when the arbitration law took effect) to September 2013, average raises in local contracts, whether through arbitration or negotiations, were 1.86 percent — the lowest in at least 20 years.
Posted: May 4th, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: Declan O'Scanlon, NJ State Legislature, Property Tax Tool Kit, Property Taxes | Tags: Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, Interest Arbitration Cap, Property Tax Cap, Property Tax Tool Kit, Property Taxes | 4 Comments »Howell boy who went missing is found
Howell boy who went missing is found (via NJ.com)
HOWELL — Township police have located a 16-year-old autistic boy who went missing from Howell High School this morning. The boy, who was not named, was “safe and in condition,” according to an update on the department’s Facebook page. Contacted by…
Free Responsible Bartender Training
Monday, May 5 from 10am to 3pm at Monmouth University,
Prevention First will hold a free training for owners, managers and employees of Monmouth County businesses that hold liquor licenses (restaurants, hotels, bars, nightclubs, etc.). Attendees will be taking a leading role in the effort to prevent alcohol misuse by attending this
training which will assist local servers and vendors in preventing illegal sales of alcohol to underage youth. Guests can expect to learn more about staying on top of the latest trends in false identification, developing innovative strategies to prevent selling alcohol to underage customers, understanding the legal and social consequences of serving underage
youth and helping to protect their community and becoming a part of the Hero Campaign. Register online for this event at www.PreventionFirst.net.
Free breakfast, lunch and giveaways will be provided.
For more information, contact Liza DeJesus, Prevention First,
732.663.1800, x 218, ldejesus@preventionfirst.net or Suanne Schaad, Monmouth University, 732.263.5804, sschaad@monmouth.edu.
About Prevention First —
Prevention First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that has been
providing youth, parents and professionals with research-based
prevention programs to help children stay healthy, safe and
drug-free since 1967.
Sunday, May 4 in Monmouth County
It’s Sunday, May 4 in Monmouth County.
As usual I am up with the birds and pounding away on my computer.
Not sure what the day will bring.
Will there be rain or will the sun be shining? Either way here are some events that are sure to please.
Tolerance takes a beating at Rutgers
Joe Schilp
As a Part-Time Lecturer for 5 years at Rutgers University, I was looking forward to attending my first Commencement Ceremony later this month, particularly to hear guest honoree, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. But today, Secretary Rice withdrew from Commencement following a protest at Rutgers featuring 50 students. On a campus that has over 55,000 students, 50 students represents just 0.001% of the student population, and those students were between the ages of 8 and 12 during the Iraq War, about which they were protesting because Rice was a National Security Advisor during the run-up to and beginning of the war.
Clearly, these students have been coached. And clearly, they are misguided. Aside from the fact that Secretary Rice did not “lie” about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq (the internet is littered with quotes from Democrat Party leaders droning on about the presence of WMD’s that were made both before and after Bush was elected president; were they lying, too?), the war resolution passed in Congress listed over a dozen reasons for authorizing war.
Posted: May 4th, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: Rutgers | Tags: Condoleeza Rice, Joe Schilp, Rutgers | 3 Comments »Table talk could be chilly for Christie at White House correspondents dinner
Table talk could be chilly for Christie at White House correspondents dinner (via NJ.com)
Gov. Chris Christie and his wife Mary Pat look to have some interesting dining companions at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents Association dinner, the annual gathering of the media, political and entertainment elite. According to The Hill’…
Condoleezza Rice pulls out of giving Rutgers commencement speech
Condoleezza Rice pulls out of giving Rutgers commencement speech (via NJ.com)
NEW BRUNSWICK — Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice backed out of giving Rutgers University’s commencement speech today amid growing opposition among the school’s students and faculty. In a statement, Rice said she informed Rutgers President…
Paper Shredding Days
County announces paper shredding days
Opportunities to dispose of old documents safely
Monmouth County has scheduled four spring 2014 Paper Shredding events in local communities so that Monmouth County residents have opportunities to get rid of old documents and confidential files safely.
All shredding events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as follows:
Saturday, May 3 – Marine Park, West Front Street, Red Bank
Saturday, June 7 – Marlboro Municipal Complex, 1979 Township Dr.
Saturday, June 14 – Upper Freehold Municipal Building, 314 Route 539
Saturday, June 21 – Dow Avenue School, 555 Dow Ave., Ocean Township
“We are happy to offer these events for responsible paper disposal which will help residents reduce the risk of identity theft,” said Freeholder Serena DiMaso. “The County continues to be proactive in removing recyclables from our waste stream and we encourage residents to do their part by making use of these events and all other county services for proper waste disposal.” County residents may bring up to 100 lbs. to be shredded.
The shredding event will stop once the shredding truck is full.
All papers will be shredded on location in the mobile truck. Documents should be free of large binder clips; staples and paper clips may be left on documents.
This is a project of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders
and partner municipalities. Information about these paper shredding
events, recycling and removing other items from the County’s waste stream
may be obtained from the County’s website at www.visitmonmouth.com
or by calling 732-683-8686, ext. 6721.
Posted: May 2nd, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: BizEturtle, Monmouth County | Tags: Monmouth County, paper, shredding | Comments Off on Paper Shredding Days
Bookerism of the day
