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Post by Go Plainedge! on Apr 13, 2006 15:16:51 GMT -5
So, our 2006/07 budget gets passed (1st time around - lets hope) and we move on to 2007/08 budget season.
With the 10+% budget passing this year, are we now setting a precedent for future budget presentations to be 10+% each year following?
Can this community sustain a constant double digit increase year after year?
This community has taken a hard stance on double digit increases. Dr. Richman has even agreed that he doesn't believe double digit increases will work well here.
Yes, I know...it's for the kids. That's all well and good for some people in this community. But, for others that reasoning doesn't always work.
Is this the new future for Plainedge?
Feedback?
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Post by patriot2415 on Apr 13, 2006 16:32:38 GMT -5
Go, reports say it takes 3 years to recover from contingency.
That being said, remember we started in the whole this year and brought back a lot of programs, not all but a lot. We have to decide as a community if what wasn't brought back this year will be brought back next year or the year after.
There is also the State aid topic. We do not know what will happen there.
There is also possible trimming in compensation to be looked at. But those contracts would need to be opened up.
We need to see the impact of the new board.
Once this budget is passed, we as a community MUST keep our involvement in the budget process as active as it was this year.
I know those aren't exactly the answers you are looking for, but it's a start. We just have to keep up the community team work we started this year.
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Post by devilsrus on Apr 13, 2006 17:45:41 GMT -5
Whoa G.P.! Can we get thru this vote? This is the first step in a process. I don't know nor does any anyone else what next year could bring. Double digits? This is a recovery phase. As has been posted before; the time for robust discussion is May 17. Not prior to. Can you predict the future? Lets get the first one done. We all live here. We all will measure,shape and influence future budgets. This is a first step. If we don"t take a first step we might never take another. You are putting the cart ahead of the horse. If this budget doesn't pass because of "oh my God! what happens next?" you will bear a heavy burden. If you are that accurate a prognosticator please give me the winner and the exacta of the Kentucky Derby... then our problems will be solved.
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Post by Go Plainedge! on Apr 13, 2006 18:29:44 GMT -5
devilsrus: Like I said in the title, I wanted to play Devils Advocate....don't get too excited. ;D Sometimes with proper planning, a look towards the future and what "COULD be" is very helpful. It helps you to make an educated decision today. The decisions we make today and May 16th affect the near and distant future of this district. Phil - I agree, we must maintain a strong involvement after the vote is complete. Like devilsrus said, no one can predict the future, but you can sure as heck plan for it. If you don't, the you're simply not being as efficient with current and future monies. ....as far as the Derby - I like, in this order...... 1. JR's OUT 2. See Dick Run 3. C_P_R-4U
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Post by gopybl on Apr 13, 2006 20:12:56 GMT -5
Go Pedge - I think that the Budget Passing and C_P_R_ being elected are part and parcel with our recovery process. With a revitalized BOE, I think we can apply much more pressure on saving money on the other parts of the budget other than the program side. Every dollar saved will mean more programs for the children with a smaller budgetary increase.
I think if the community stays as involved next year....We'll be surprised what we are able to accomplish with next years budget. We need to force this administration to find ways to provide the same level of Education Cheaper, Better, Faster....However, those are discussions for after this budget PASSES...
Vote YES !!!
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Post by justfacts on Apr 13, 2006 20:13:07 GMT -5
GoPlainedge!What do you mean no one can predict the future?Didn't I say that Pataki would most likely veto the extra tax money the Legislative Branch just said they added (That famous $1.33 Million increase) As of today it is in La-La land.I also predict the Legislators will make a big ruckus about over riding the veto - now, and then get serious about it along about election time!I wonder how many Plainedge residents had already spent that money?And, as far as "taking three years to bring back the cuts" weren't all the cut items in the budget of 2004/5?
Yeah!, I know, that budget was knocked down the first time and $500,000 was "cut" from the $55.8 Million First Budget asked for. The one that had all the programs in it without any cuts.But if you do a little homework - you'll find that Richman and crowd, without telling Plainedge what they were doing, went and spent not only the "cut" amount but also $620,000 more! That makes the 2004/5 actual spending exceed the first rejected budget (that supposedly funded everything without any cuts) by $100,000. There had to be no "Cuts" in that spending! (Although I wonder where the "extra" went to? Children's programs? Nah! Not with what we know of the present Administration!) Then came the "Contingency Budget" which only needed to be cut from what was asked for by $2.1 Million, NOT the $2.5 Million that the District panicked over! It had $1.7 Million left over when all is said and done. Prediction - One day we will have an Administration that can prepare a Budget!Ed Vote your convictions - Not your Frustrations!
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Post by devilsrus on Apr 13, 2006 20:31:38 GMT -5
G.P.: I'm all for planning for the future. I also believe in planning for the now. The only thing that I am excited about is the passing of the budget ( but one or two more County Championships wouldn't stink ). Educated decisions are based on information. The information at hand compels a YES vote. What will the economy be like next year, what will the state based mandates be, how many of our kids will be overseas, are unanswerable right now. My thought on the budget, now and in the future, is that a groundswell of people are now involved in the process. My thought is that the more people involved in the process the more ideas are brought to light, the more ideas that are brought to light the more choices of those ideas that are practical and those that might sound good, but in the end might fail for a varitey of reasons. As far as your picks: I like the three; not sure at all about the two, and the one has run alot of races and still will finish somewhere in the trifecta, benefiting from a large number of prelimanaries. I'm not a handicapper, but I'm betting on our district to come out winners May 16. D CPR
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Post by gopybl on Apr 13, 2006 20:38:30 GMT -5
Devil -- Great post...If we all stick together we can't help but Win this one.
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Post by thewildrover on Apr 13, 2006 21:10:10 GMT -5
Go-Pedge,
Whats the alternative and what are the consequences?.
What has the potential for more disaster?
The budget passing or not passing?
Where should our energies be focused??
WE have a plan, WE have been nothing but successful since the beginning of organizing and galvanizing this community.
The fact that WE were able to pressure Albany for additional $ (WE would not have gotten that with out the community pressure) shows that this is a community in action.
And WE were able, through OUR involvement, to convince the BOE to apply this $ against the tax levy, not additional spending!
WE expect to accelerate OUR efforts in this regard.
When you talk about Dr. Richman acknowledging double-digit increases being unsupportable over the long term.............remember it was the community that was at the BOE meetings and were part of the process that gave this budget what amounts to a standing ovation when it was ratified
And that applause was for this reason and this reason only............
IT WAS FAIR AND REASONABLE!!!!
WE were part of the process and now is no time for back peddling and second-guessing!!!
Lead, follow or get out of the way
So much hard work and effort has been put into getting to the POSITIVE place we are at right at this moment...WE cannot allow second guessing to weaken US now.
It cannot help OUR cause at this very moment
The paramount concern???
WE should all worry about the ramifications of what happens if this budget doesn’t pass, period amen.
WE can worry about what improvements and enhancements WE can affect for the betterment of P-Town starting on May 17th.
Everything else is a distraction!
The Devils advocate?....A thread has never been more accurately named.
WE, US and OUR..WE are in it for the long hual.......P-Town is OUR town!!!! DONT HURT THE KIDS!..............VOTE YES!!
It's about the kid's...It's about change...It's about time ! Breathe new life into the BOE....Give it C_P_R_....
Cantatore Presuto Raymond
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Post by rinx on Apr 13, 2006 21:25:28 GMT -5
Just a quickie about the future.... What do you tell your friends and neighbors who are already paying 10K in current combined taxes? Do you tell them it's only another 1000 per year for the next so many years? There are many that have reached the breaking point.
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Post by thewildrover on Apr 13, 2006 21:29:17 GMT -5
I'd tell them to read my last post!
For edification purposes and not to add to any undo hysteria, as the budget stands now it would result in a roughly $620 increase for the average homeowner in P-Town. If the Legislature and Senate have any honor at all, they will override Patakis cuts and add a additional $300 in tax breaks for a grand total of roughly (I say "roughly" Facts, so don't hit me too hard with the "Facts" stick) $320 increase for the average homeowner.
With the prospect of change with CPR, this discussion is a distraction to the task at hand.
Lets pass this budget, get CPR in and running and stop the nonsense that has been and look forward to the positive that will be.
It's about the kid's...It's about change...It's about time ! Breathe new life into the BOE....Give it C_P_R_....
Cantatore Presuto Raymond
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Post by devilsrus on Apr 13, 2006 22:08:28 GMT -5
Good evening Rinx, And your solution is? This is what it costs to live here. Would your taxes be that much less in East Meadow? Syosset? Bethpage? Lets just focus on the task at hand. Its about passing the budget. Thats it. Anything else at this point is divisive and a distraction. I'm not sure what your taxes would be if we are mired in austerity for a second year. My thought, again, is that while your taxes might not change much, what you get for your taxes might be drastically different. And the value of your home, while taxed at a high rate, would not hold the same value. Lets put aside the diversions and focus on the task at hand. Its about Time! Its about the kids! Its about YES!
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Post by gopybl on Apr 14, 2006 5:28:01 GMT -5
Rinx - That might be some of the reason for the For Sale Signs around the area. If you can't afford it this year....Your not gonna afford it next year or the year after that. Taxes are not gonna go down with the CPI going up each year and the cost of Fuel getting to ridiculous levels.
My suggestion is to ask them if they would like to pay $92.00 more for the year with their Enchanted Star Tax Rebate Check or give up $50,000 or $60,000 in property value....Thats a no brainer to me....
Everyone in this community need to echo the sentiments of THEWILDROVER on his previous post.... It's everyone's responsibility to communicate this budget to their neighbors and friends...
WE, US and OUR..WE are in it for the long hual.......P-Town is OUR town!!!! DONT HURT THE KIDS!..............VOTE YES!!
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Post by Go Plainedge! on Apr 14, 2006 8:00:26 GMT -5
Wild:
The purpose of my post was to make one think. The first part of your post had the answers I was looking for. You answered my questions with questions - in other words it made you think.
Second guessing, back peddling? Nah. Just me playing Devil's Advocate to make sure no one is making a hasty decision. This community is still paying for hasty decisions that were made several years ago.
As I stated earlier, the decisions we make today shape the future of P-Town (as you call it - more on that later) tomorrow.
It is all about the kids - today's kids and tomorrows kids.
As far as the property value theory, unfortunately, you MAY lose that amount whether you like it or not and whether the budget passes or not. No one knows and we can't predict the future, right? It's house selling season right now. You may see more For Sale signs you may see more SOLD signs. We'll see what happens.
Inventories are up and houses aren't selling like they did. Those inventories are just as high in other towns (that are NOT on a contingency budget) as they are in Plainedge. I drive to East Meadow quite often and there are just as many For Sale signs. Massapequa - the same, Bethpage - the same, Old Brookville - THE SAME.
P-Town - the only town I ever knew that was referred to as "P-Town" was Provincetown. Google PTown and see what you get. ;D
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Post by thewildrover on Apr 14, 2006 8:35:26 GMT -5
I have used the term "P-Town" because the students, especially the student athletes, use that term endearingly refering to Plainedge. You might have seen it written on their cars during football season.
As for the P-Town you are refering to, I'll use a Seinfeld-ism: "Not that theres anything wrong with that".
WE, US and OUR..WE are in it for the long hual.......P-Town (Plainedge-Town) is OUR town!!!! DONT HURT THE KIDS!..............VOTE YES!!
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