Evesham Forum

Is This Thing On?

2006-10-27T18:36:00.000-04:00

Well, things are starting to heat up. We have a mid-term election that will determine the balance of the legislative branch for the next two years and county races coming up.

I guess it's never too early to start discussing the township elections in May either.

This blog is back.

Cherokee Baseball

2006-05-01T18:32:00.000-04:00

Why don't more people come out and watch Cherokee baseball? Where else can you see high quality baseball for free?

Here's a schedule with Shawnee (your humble correspondent's alma mater) coming up on Friday and Eastern and Paul VI in between.

Catcher Chris Henderson and pitcher Alex Pracher and the rest of the squad are well worth your time.

Marlton Forced to Add 193 Low Income Units

2006-04-24T15:06:00.000-04:00

Most of you know that I'm a Republican. I'm also a Constitutionalist and hate the idea of a strong federal and state government, so you can imagine how it bothers me to have a Superior Court judge order the town I live in to build a specific number of low income units. The entire idea of the low income units is to ensure that all people have the right to good schools.

A snippet:

Evesham must provide 193 new units of affordable housing within the next eight years, while Medford must create an additional 85 units, a judge ruled.

Superior Court Judge John Sweeney gave each municipality 90 days to submit a compliance plan showing how they will satisfy their obligations, which must be met by Jan. 1, 2014.

Read that again--we have been ordered by a judge to comply with an inane, feel-good law.

More:

The number of required units -- far less than what has been built since 1987 -- is retroactive to 2004. The figures are based on slower projected housing and commercial growth.

For every eight market-rate housing units built, municipalities have to plan for one affordable unit. New job creation locally increases the obligation.

Maybe I'm reading that wrong, but it appears that if you create new jobs--thus bettering the economy--you have increased your obligation to build low income units. A major disincentive if you ask me.

A municipality may transfer part of its affordable-housing requirements to another municipality if it pays the other community for assuming the obligation.

Medford is paying Glassboro more than $2 million to take 117 of affordable units from its pre-2004 obligation. However, the municipality has more than 300 other affordable units that private developers have built since 1987.

Evesham has agreements with towns in Burlington and Gloucester counties to take some of its housing under prior obligations set by the state Council on Affordable Housing.

Legal blackmail, plain and simple. You either build the units or pay someone else to do it.

Here's the mission statement for the Council on Affordable Housing:

To facilitate the production of sound, affordable housing for low and moderate income households by providing the most effective process to municipalities, housing providers, nonprofit and for profit developers to address a constitutional obligation within the framework of sound, comprehensive planning.

Man, bureaucratic doublespeak at its finest.

The intent of the bill is un-American from the outset as it sets one group of people above another for the purposes of legislatively increasing living conditions. This has never worked and only forces the haves to support the have nots as a law.

This is poor policy.

2006-04-18T14:58:00.000-04:00

VOTE HERE!

School Budget Vote

2006-04-12T12:24:00.000-04:00

Since fields have been an issue I've been passionate about, I will focus on that question with regard to the budget vote.

While the $5.8-million is a one time fee, the fields will need maintenance from time to time. There will be some extra costs not presented, but these will be less costly and time-consuming than the cutting and field preparation that now must occur.

The main issue I have is a guarantee that the MRC will have reasnable access to these fields. They are selling it in that manner and we should at least get some type of promise that access will be granted.

Will MRC football be able to play their home games there? Will soccer, lacrosse and other sports have the access they need? These are questions that must be answered.

So this is the plan...

2006-04-10T16:16:00.000-04:00

if the budget with the three questions on the Lenape Regional High School District passes....all the fields in the district will have artificial turf. This will allow all sports to be played on the stadiums. It will also, the district promises, allows other teams within the towns to use the fields. How do you all see this proposition?

Good job Evesham Police!

2006-04-07T12:41:00.000-04:00

The Evesham police made an arrest for a robbery at the Promenade last year. Excellent work Evesham PD!

Remember to Vote!

2006-04-05T08:56:00.000-04:00

This year the school boards elections are in the middle of spring break...I would like to strangle all state people who approved that...really stupid move...however, a new law allows you to cast an absentee ballot even if you are in town..in other words, there are no excuses for not voting! Also, remember here in Evesham we have two different school districts to vote on.

Want to know who to vote for in Evesham School Board election?

2006-04-03T20:35:00.000-04:00

You need to come to the Meet the Candidate's Night on April 5th. It really is a good way to find out where the candidates stand on issues!

FEC Not To Regulate Net

2006-03-27T22:22:00.000-05:00

The Federal Elections Commission has voted 6-0 to not regulate political discourse in the web. The regulations will only apply to paid advertisements:

The decision means that bloggers and online publications will not be covered by provisions of the new election law. Internet bloggers and individuals will therefore be able to use the internet to attack or support federal candidates without running afoul of campaign spending and contribution limits.

"It's a win, win, win," Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub said, adding that the rule would satisfy concerns of campaigns, individuals and the internet community about whether the campaign finance law applies to online political activity.

This is excellent news for free speech advocates and bloggers. This site is heavily influenced by politics from both sides and would have been adversely effected by the proposed regulations.

Posted from rainy Sacramento where I'm meeting with a client this week.

The Dumbing Down of Our Children

2006-03-19T20:35:00.000-05:00

Recently I had the opportunity to truly examine Evesham Township's Middle School (6th to 8th grade) Curriculum Topics/Inclusions, particularly mathematics. To say I was disgusted and a bit shocked would be an understatement. Let's face it, in order to truly learn anything you must start at the beginning, or shall I say the "basics". When mastered, you move on. 1+1=2 2x2=4, you get the point.

A typical school year is 180 days so I am using that figure, I will get back to why in a moment. The following flow from 6th to 8th grade.

6th
Ratio & Proportion
Algebraic order of operations
Whole numbers, fractions, decimals, integers
Recursive patterns
Numerical expressions
Data Analysis
Probability of compound events
Angles, surface area, volume
7th
Applications of proportions
Rational numbers
exponents
percents
Finite & infinite sequences
Graphic displays of functions
Linear equations
Data analysis and projections
Probability as ratios, percents & decimals
Transformations
8th
Powers of 10
Square & cube roots
Integers
Functional relationships
Linear inequalities
Similar figures
Probability of conditional events
Fractals
Scale drawing
Arithmetic & geometric sequences
Compound measurement (speed, air pressure)
Trigometric functions

Now, we can go back to the 180 day school year. It doesn't take a math teacher to figure out that in 6th grade, there are 9 “mathematical concepts", which children are spending an average of 20 days on each math "concept". Twenty days for an eleven year old to grasp and hopefully master, recursive patterns, probability of compound events & data analysis. Let's move on to 7th grade where there are 11 "mathematical concepts" to grasp in 180 days, leaving the child 16 days for each. The child enters 8th grade and the "mathematical concepts" to learn in a 180 days are now 12, basically 15 days per "concept". All days per “concept” are assuming the child is never absent.

What the hell happened to teaching children the foundation of mathematics; addition, subtraction, division, multiplication? When and why did "Conceptual Math" become an appropriate curriculum? To ask a child to grasp a "concept" is appropriate, if the concept itself is age appropriate.

My studies and conversations with students, teachers and math professors have led me to the conclusion that we no longer teach children the foundation for a strong math background. The above mathematic concepts are rooted in passing the GEPA, HSPA and SAT tests.

Everyone wants their children to excel in life, not just pass a test. Without memorization of multiplication tables and the like, children are not likely to pass a test without a calculator. I liken the math taught to building a new home without a foundation. It looks good from the outside, but it could collapse at any moment, thus making it very dangerous.

The following web sits are as follows: Trigometric Function from the University of Georgia and Linear Inequalities from Purplemath, just so all can see what the two topics touch upon. Impressive, if we weren't talking about 6th to 8th grade students, frightening because we are. Our Children deserve more and better, let us not forget, they are the future.

http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMT668/EMAT6680.Folders/Johnson/Assignment%207/Assignment7.html

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/syslneq.htm

Just for clarification, HeadLineNews posted this.

Assemblyman Biondi, Meet Matt Drudge

2006-03-14T20:02:00.000-05:00

Assemblyman Peter Biondi introduced legislation recently that would've forced posters to websites such as community boards to identify themselves and face potential slander or libel charges.

To Mr. Biondi's shock, the blogosphere responded (including your humble correspondent) and Matt Drudge (a man who has had 3-billion--with a B--hits in the last twelve months) linked to the article about the legislation. Biondi never knew what hit him:

Biondi's staff drafted the measure late last year. In was introduced in January. The bill hadn't even made it to committee before a small weekly newspaper published an article about it and Internet news providers began spreading the word. Then, callers from as far away as Canada deluged Biondi's office with complaints.

"For a bill that's basically one of 45 just sitting there to be picked out – and for people in Portland, Oregon and Canadian broadcasters to be calling about it – it's a little bizarre," Biondi's Chief of Staff Scott Ross said during an interview. "For something that's not even on the radar screen in Trenton, it's incredible. It's definitely a first for us. It hit the Drudge Report and it was like 'Holy moly!"

Ross said that Biondi and his staff were responding to requests from local constituents who complained about the viciousness of local discussion boards littered with name-calling. They were shocked that the bill – drafted to bring decorum to Internet discussions – drew an intense response from Internet users far beyond the Garden State's boundaries.

"We veered out of our comfort zone with this one," Ross said. "We're usually open space, quality-of-life kind of guys. We veered into technology and we were pretty much taken off guard when got hit with a couple hundred e-mails last week."

I imagine the next elected official who attempts to curb freedom of speech just may think twice about it. A note to PR reps for politicians; embrace blogs because they can help you alot or harm you dramatically.

Cross-posted here.

Local Reporter Exposes Hypocrisy

2006-03-14T17:11:00.000-05:00

Over at the best daily political read in the country, James Taranto notes a Courier Post reporter stymies Dan Rather.

Into the fray...

2006-03-13T08:47:00.000-05:00

At the risk of another extremely long post....I really do hate this partisan crap that goes on here...why don't we remove the Republican and Democrat rhetoric. If, however, you don't want to we could debate the fact that the Mayor was a Democrat when originally elected and switched parties in the middle of one of his terms stating that his philosophy had not changed one iota which should cause great consternation among both parties.

That being said….you must remember when taxes are deferred it means that the entity that the taxes go to are delayed in receiving them. Since we are talking schools here it dismays me that once more we use the schools as the whipping post for bad fiscal management. The schools have had to do with less and less state aid which only brought cries of money mismanagement from local council when local taxes have had to be raised to make up for the loss. Council ignored those warnings and are now feeling that same grip-like pinch. They should have paid attention.

As far as services…we have had services cut…in the last 15 years garbage removal was reduced from twice a week in the summer to once a week. I cannot tell you how much money was wasted on changing the original township building plans of 18 years ago to what we have now because no one who knows will admit it. I could go on and on and on, but people who know me would just tell me to stop flogging that same dead horse that I have flogged for years. Would anyone else like to give more examples?

When you cut services and you don’t make new hires, you insult existing township employees. If not for these same township employees, things would be much, much worse.

As far as the re-assessment…please, please, please someone explain to me why it was delayed for so long that the state threatened to come in and do it?

That is my opinion….now you all can carry on with the partisan rhetoric.

A Family Disagreement Part II

2006-03-13T00:21:00.000-05:00

I have read Scott's critique of my original post and below is my critique of what Scott had to say. I would like the record to reflect that this is a friendly debate among fellow Republicans. My new comments are in the green.

The school tax deferral issue, in my opinion, is nothing more than a red herring. Deferring School taxes frees up money that townships can use, with out paying interest, to pay for essential items like public safety and trash collection.

While I agree that utilizing non-interest bearing school taxes is an option that may help, it is also an option that should be used as a last resort. The idea behind deferments was not to supplement budgets but to assist townships when they were short. I don't believe the original intent was to allow continual use.

Scott, it is a last resort, Mayor and Council started out with a 14 cent tax increase. After exhausting other options they decided to deferred the school tax.

This useful tool has been around for a long while and was a mandatory municipal budget revenue source during previous gubernatorial administrations. Contrary to our opponents belief Evesham is not the only Township which uses this important resource.

Again, deferral may have been around for a long while, but then again so has welfare and we see how that has played out. I understand that Evesham is not the only town to utilize deferments, but just because others are doing something doesn't make it right. Using that thinking, I have a question: other towns such as Mount Laurel, Voorhees and Medford have beautiful sports complexes. Hey, if they can do it why can't we?

You missed my point Scott, I wasn't making a, if your friend jumped off of a bridge would you do it too point, my point is - if the school tax deferment is so bad and so evil why do most other Township also use it. It wasn't created to be an emergency measure, because if it were it would not have been a state mandated practice in previous Gubernatorial Administrations.

The deferring of school taxes is similar to zero percent financing plans that almost every store offers for large purchases. I personally do not purchase any large ticket items unless I can finance them for, at least a year, interest free.

The simple fact is that even if you are not paying interest at a store or car dealership, you still have to pay the loan. An example, let's say you buy a Lexus 300 with no down and no interest for a year. Let's further hypothesize that in a year the economy tanks and you lose your job or take a pay cut, you will be stuck with a nice car that you've paid nothing on but minimal principle. You still have to repay the money. Where does that money come from?

Is the Township going to go bankrupt this year? Do you know something I don't know?

Let's extrapolate that out to the township. Sure, we have essentially free money, but money that will have to be paid back. It's easy to amass loans when needed to the point that before we know it, we have tens of millions of dollars worth of loans and no means to pay them.

Exactly Scott! The Deferral has to be paid off in six months on July 1st. Here is how it works, the Township's budget is on a calendar year (January 1) and School District budget is on a fiscal year (July 1st). The Township collects the school taxes and holds them, unless of course they defer part of the collected taxes. The Township is legally allowed to defer up to 50% of the school taxes. In any case, the school still receives its tax payment, by law, for that fiscal year. The school tax is not deferred indefinitely, just for six months.

For example, my wife and I just brought our daughter a swing set, which we financed for one year, interest free. We figured that for two hundred dollars a month our daughter could enjoy a swing set this year, without waiting, as long as we paid it off within a year.

That's the key phrase "as long as we paid it off within a year". What if you don't have the funds to pay it off in a year? Is it right to keep deferring it?

Again it is only deferred for six months, it is not deferred indefinitely, and it has to be released to the School District that school year. If you need more information on this practice, call either Joe Fisicaro or Joe Boruki, they are our representatives on the Lenape Regional School Board, they will be happy to explain the impact this will have on the Regional School District.

By using the school deferral funds the resident's of Evesham Township can enjoy the fantastic services that the township provides and they've come to expect, much like my daughter is enjoying her new swing set.

"Fantastic services?" What services? I agree that snow removal is effective as is leaf removal and the Police department, but what else? We have no fields for our kids to play on and have no hope of any being created before my son reaches high school. We pissed away money on open space that couldn't have been used for other purposes anyway and we have a golf course that'll cost us millions (I know, I know, it's "making money now").By the way, we pay for those services. We've had our taxes increased dramatically in the last decade that pays for the services that you gush about and we will really get slammed when the reassessment occurs. Government does not earn money, the revenue is generated by taxes and taxes alone with the exception of the golf course and we see how that's going.

Lets see where do I begin. First of all the Township has a top rate staff who go above and beyond the call of duty. I have always had a positive experience every time I have dealt with someone from the Township. That being said, we have a top notch Police Department, Public Works Department, I never have to worry about my trash being picked up, roads being plowed, leaves being picked up. We also have a fantastic Fire Department and Rescue Squad. We have a wonder library, the Blue Barn, the Gibson House and the play ground at Memorial Fields are all top rate. It is my understanding that the recreation needs are being addressed.

As far as the open space issue goes, the land I think you are talking about, it is my understanding, that the Township received some sort of credits for, but I will investigate further and let you know. But, I would also like to add that land which you may not think is valuable today, could become valuable in the future if the DEP or a future Governor and Legislature change a developers ability to build on wetlands. Don't think it can happen - ask any environmentalist if they believed the "fast track" bill would have been passed by the Legislature and sign into law by the Governor.

I don't know where you are getting your information on taxes, but the tax rate hasn't increased dramatically, in fact it has either been flat or increased slightly over the last ten years. If you go back ten years, you will see it has only increased an average of two cents per year. As far an the reassessment goes, I have been to several meetings and it has been publicly stated that once the Township reassesses they will lower the tax rate because the reassessment does not change the amount that needs to be collected through taxation. In fact the tax rate will drop. While the Township budget is mostly funded by property taxes, it also uses revenue for other sources, such as; State aid, grants, fines, fees and licenses. There may be other sources, sorry if I missed any.

If interest free financing is good enough for the Waters household, than deferring school taxes is good enough for Evesham Township.

Ed, this is spin. You make it sound as if this is free money. It is not, it is money that will have to be paid back sooner rather than later. That is the antithesis of fiscal conservatism.

Scott, This is my opinion, and I though that was acceptable blogger etiquette to post your opinion. My apologies, I will refrain from adding my opinion to any debate.

The best way I can find to describe the debate about the school tax deferment is by using the words of the immortal William Shakespeare, it's much ado about nothing!

I'll reply with the immortal words of Ronald Reagan: "Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them."

Usually, when I see your negative posts about our Mayor and Council, I think about Reagan's 11th Commandment: Do not speak ill of another Republican.

There was a time when being a Republican meant:
Fiscally conservatism
Small government ideology
Responsibility
Willing to make the tough call when needed.

Sadly, we are on a path to fiscal calamity that can be averted only by acting in a fiscally conservative manner. Whether they are called "interest free loans" of deferments, it's all money that will have to be paid back no matter how it's spun. As a Republican, I can't abide the shifting of money without a cut in spending. It goes against everything I was taught a Republican stood for.

Scott, Mayor and Council have cut spending; they have instituted a hiring freeze on all nonessential personnel, they are not filling 4 vacant Township jobs, they have cut unnecessary expenses. If you have idea's that you think would help trim the budget you should give either Mayor and Council or the Township Manager a call and discuss it with them.

A Family Disagreement

2006-03-12T09:42:00.000-05:00

This blog is a loose affiliation of Evesham residents of all political stripes. We argue, disagree, agree and debate. Just like a family. Well, in that vein, I have to take my blog brother Ed Waters to task for comments in the previous post.

Ed stated:

The school tax deferral issue, in my opinion, is nothing more than a red herring. Deferring School taxes frees up money that townships can use, with out paying interest, to pay for essential items like public safety and trash collection.

While I agree that utilizing non-interest bearing school taxes is an option that may help, it is also an option that should be used as a last resort. The idea behind deferments was not to supplement budgets but to assist townships when they were short. I don't believe the original intent was to allow continual use.

This useful tool has been around for a long while and was a mandatory municipal budget revenue source during previous gubernatorial administrations. Contrary to our opponents belief Evesham is not the only Township which uses this important resource.

Again, deferral may have been around for a long while, but then again so has welfare and we see how that has played out. I understand that Evesham is not the only town to utilize deferments, but just because others are doing something doesn't make it right. Using that thinking, I have a question: other towns such as Mount Laurel, Voorhees and Medford have beautiful sports complexes. Hey, if they can do it why can't we?

The deferring of school taxes is similar to zero percent financing plans that almost every store offers for large purchases. I personally do not purchase any large ticket items unless I can finance them for, at least a year, interest free.

The simple fact is that even if you are not paying interest at a store or car dealership, you still have to pay the loan. An example, let's say you buy a Lexus 300 with no down and no interest for a year. Let's further hypothesize that in a year the economy tanks and you lose your job or take a pay cut, you will be stuck with a nice car that you've paid nothing on but minimal principle. You still have to repay the money. Where does that money come from?

Let's extrapolate that out to the township. Sure, we have essentially free money, but money that will have to be paid back. It's easy to amass loans when needed to the point that before we know it, we have tens of millions of dollars worth of loans and no means to pay them.

For example, my wife and I just brought our daughter a swing set, which we financed for one year, interest free. We figured that for two hundred dollars a month our daughter could enjoy a swing set this year, without waiting, as long as we paid it off within a year.

That's the key phrase "as long as we paid it off within a year". What if you don't have the funds to pay it off in a year? Is it right to keep deferring it?

By using the school deferral funds the resident’s of Evesham Township can enjoy the fantastic services that the township provides and they’ve come to expect, much like my daughter is enjoying her new swing set.

"Fantastic services?" What services? I agree that snow removal is effective as is leaf removal and the Police department, but what else? We have no fields for our kids to play on and have no hope of any being created before my son reaches high school. We pissed away money on open space that couldn't have been used for other purposes anyway and we have a golf course that'll cost us millions (I know, I know, it's "making money now").

By the way, we pay for those services. We've had our taxes increased dramatically in the last decade that pays for the services that you gush about and we will really get slammed when the reassessment occurs. Government does not earn money, the revenue is generated by taxes and taxes alone with the exception of the golf course and we see how that's going.

If interest free financing is good enough for the Waters household, than deferring school taxes is good enough for Evesham Township.

Ed, this is spin. You make it sound as if this is free money. It is not, it is money that will have to be paid back sooner rather than later. That is the antithesis of fiscal conservatism.

The best way I can find to describe the debate about the school tax deferment is by using the words of the immortal William Shakespeare, it’s much ado about nothing!

I'll reply with the immortal words of Ronald Reagan: "Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them."

There was a time when being a Republican meant:

Fiscally conservatism
Small government ideology
Responsibility
Willing to make the tough call when needed.

Sadly, we are on a path to fiscal calamity that can be averted only by acting in a fiscally conservative manner. Whether they are called "interest free loans" of deferments, it's all money that will have to be paid back no matter how it's spun. As a Republican, I can't abide the shifting of money without a cut in spending. It goes against everything I was taught a Republican stood for.

School Deferral: Real Issue or Red Herring

2006-03-11T09:28:00.000-05:00

The school tax deferral issue, in my opinion, is nothing more than a red herring. Deferring School taxes frees up money that townships can use, with out paying interest, to pay for essential items like public safety and trash collection. This useful tool has been around for a long while and was a mandatory municipal budget revenue source during previous gubernatorial administrations. Contrary to our opponents belief Evesham is not the only Township which uses this important resource.

The deferring of school taxes is similar to zero percent financing plans that almost every store offers for large purchases. I personally do not purchase any large ticket items unless I can finance them for, at least a year, interest free. For example, my wife and I just brought our daughter a swing set, which we financed for one year, interest free. We figured that for two hundred dollars a month our daughter could enjoy a swing set this year, without waiting, as long as we paid it off within a year.

By using the school deferral funds the resident’s of Evesham Township can enjoy the fantastic services that the township provides and they’ve come to expect, much like my daughter is enjoying her new swing set.

If interest free financing is good enough for the Waters household, than deferring school taxes is good enough for Evesham Township.

The best way I can find to describe the debate about the school tax deferment is by using the words of the immortal William Shakespeare, it’s much ado about nothing!

The Lone No Vote

2006-03-09T20:31:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, the Evesham Council introduced a 29.5 million dollar budget. What does this mean for taxpayers aside from a 6.7 cent tax increase?

It means that the mayor and council, minus the lone no vote of Councilman Schmidt, once again did not do the job for the taxpayers they where elected to do. Instead of sitting at the drawing board and rolling up their sleeves to work for this Twp. as they where entrusted to do, the crayons must have broken. Last year the Municipal budget wasn’t passed until May, why the sudden rush now? It’s reminiscent of the watered down pay to play resolution that was pushed through last June.

Are we as taxpayers supposed to thank Tamburro, Sarcone, Olt & Cardillo for deferring another $1,819,000 bringing the deferred Regional HS taxes to a staggering $9,850,334.83. Sarcone’s entire platform was "pay to play" and not deferring taxes. She has failed at both. Olt was quoted in the BCT as saying it was not “good government to keep delaying things.” I ask, is it good government to keep deferring things? Here’s the definition of deferral:
deferral
noun
1: a state of abeyance or suspended business [syn: recess]
2: act of putting off to a future time [syn: postponement, deferment]

Sound similar?!
Also in the BCT Sarcone accused her ex-running mate of “partisan politics” definition:
par·ti·san
noun.
1: A fervent, sometimes militant supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.
2: A member of an organized body of fighters who attack or harass an enemy, especially within occupied territory; a guerrilla.
adj.
1: Of, relating to, or characteristic of a partisan or partisans.
2:Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause: partisan politics.

The noun is Ms. Sarcone and her GOP talking points; the adj. is how it was used to describe Councilman Schmidt. Amusing considering the entire GOP platform against Sarcone & Schmidt surrounded 2.3 million dollars of deferrals. The typical do it and blame the other guy and hope no one notices it. Brilliant! NOT!

Thank you Councilman Schmidt for having a backbone and a plan. Doing the right thing; highly unusual for Evesham. Maybe, just maybe, Evesham will be blessed with Gus and gang getting on the band wagon next year and calling Councilman Schmidt’s ideas’ their own; it’s the only way it will happen. Then we can balance a budget.

I guess the moral of the story is, I’ll take a “partisan” conservative Democrat over tax and spend Republicans any day. Isn’t that an oxymoron?

A Clarification

2006-03-07T07:08:00.000-05:00

The preceding post was written by Headline News, not me. Since this is a group blog, sometimes posts are listed as being by one author instead of the other.

I don't altogether disagree with the statements made in the post, they were just not written by me.

Just For Kicks and Giggles

2006-03-07T00:02:00.000-05:00

A mercantile license fee will make things more expensive for the consumer.

Ok, let’s do the math. Numbers don’t lie, people do.

Just for kicks and giggles let’s use round numbers for those that hate math like me.

Residents pay 82% of the municipal budget; businesses shoulder 16% of the budget. That’s not only disproportionate, it’s just not fair!

Large anchor stores: Target/Wal-Mart/Sears $2,000 per year

Large business: Hill International/Davis Enterprises/Parker McCay $2,000 per year

Now, let’s divide $2000 by 365 days in the year. The survey says $5.47 a day.

Target/Wal-Mart/Sears will pass on this giant $5.47 increase to the consumer? Let’s do the math, even if, each store added 1 cent to 547 products, which, in any of these stores, one register can ring in a day. That’s absurd thought, not going to happen.

Let’s talk about Hill International/Davis Enterprises/Parker McCay, same numbers apply. It would be virtually impossible for these corporations to even justify passing on $5.47 to consumers. Quantify it this way, if Parker McCay has a monthly retainer in Evesham of $7,500, which translates into $250.00 per day (without billing for extras) and Davis Enterprises owns the Promenade, Allison Apts., Sagemore, the Weston Club, etc. I am sure the $5.47 doesn’t pay for Starbucks for two of the owners. Justify passing it on to the consumer, not possible. Same applies for Hill and all other large corporations doing business in Evesham.

Let’s face it, they benefit from the location, Evesham is the center of the “money” towns.

It’s about time, we as taxpayers get a break, without breaking our backs

2006-03-02T22:42:00.000-05:00

EVESHAM REPUBLICAN CLUB OPPOSES “STEALTH SALES TAX” INITIATIVE

Republican Club Strongly Opposes the Creation of a New Tax

Marlton - Evesham Republican Club President Dennis Dugan today expressed dismay at a recent proposal by Councilman Mike Schmidt to create a business privilege fee, which is equivalent to a stealth sales tax.

“A tax by any other name is still a tax,” said Dugan. “Does Councilman Schmidt believe that by taxing businesses, they will not pass this additional burden onto consumers? This proposal is a sneaky way to implement a new tax which is not only anti-consumer; it would also have a detrimental effect on economic development in the township. This proposal is nothing more than the creation of a stealth sales tax.”

“I wonder if Councilman Schmidt has considered how many Evesham residents also patronize local businesses and would be affected by this brand new tax,” concluded Dugan. “The Evesham Republican Club strongly opposes the creation of a stealth sales tax, disguised as a business privilege fee.”

School Board Elections and Budget Presentation

2006-02-28T16:21:00.000-05:00

It appears as though eight (8) residents have filed their nominating petitions for the three full term seats on the Evesham Township Board of Education. They are, Joseph Barbagiovanni, Theresa Freeman, Joseph Fisicaro, Jr., Rosemary Howell, Eileen Lenihan, Lisa Mansfield, Charles Shipley and Louise L. Sprouse.

In addition, As taken from the Evesham Township E-newsletter,
"On Wednesday, April 5, the combined PTAs of our district will sponsor a Meet the Candidates Night in the Marlton Elementary School All-Purpose Room. There will be a brief budget presentation at 7 p.m. followed by a candidates’ forum moderated by the Moorestown Chapter of the League of Women Voters. Each candidate will have the opportunity to make an opening and closing statement and the floor will be open for questions from the audience.

With such a large field of candidates, the discussion should help residents as they decide for whom to vote. Mark your calendars now so you can attend on April 5th. Your participation and questions will help make the evening enlightening and informative."

For those that do not receive the School Districts e-newsletter, I would encourage you to contact Jeanne Smith at smithj@evesham.k12.nj.us Include in the text of your message that you would like to sign up for the e-newsletter and I am sure Jeanne would be happy to add you to her growing list of subscribers. The newsletter is filled with valuable information concerning Evesham Township district issues.

In Addition, Evesham Township District Department heads will present their budgets at a public meeting on Wednesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building. It is sure to be a very informative session. Public is Welcome.

Fields...Again

2006-02-26T20:33:00.000-05:00

Today was field lining day for travel soccer. I hate this day, especially for spring season because we are forced to play at Savitch as opposed to Memorial in the fall.

The field we set up for the team I coach (ranked #1 in South Jersey) has more undulations in the terrain than the parking lot at the same facility.

This is a disgrace. We may have Washington Twsp, Princeton or Moorestown coming to play here and we will have a sad excuse for a field to welcome them.

With the current tax situation we are experiencing, I fear that we will have to deal with this for the next five years.

Pathetic.

Several members of council promised action on this and I expect them to live up to their campaign promises.

South Jersey Doesn't Rate With Menendez

2006-02-25T09:24:00.000-05:00

Senator-select Robert Menendez is too busy to debate Tom Kean, Jr.:

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. - It should have been the first face-to-face discussion of issues between two men running for U.S. Senate in New Jersey.

But incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) couldn't stick around at the Southern New Jersey Development Council for the 11 a.m. tradition of debating his opponent in the year's hottest race.

He took a cheap shot at Cheney of course, then we have this:

He said he had a scheduling conflict and pulled a few North Jersey meetings from his calendar just to make the South Jersey event.

Well thanks, Bob. We in South Jersey felt honored by your presence. We all know that the state begins in Monmouth County and ends in Passaic. Everything south of I-195 is just farmland and an endless supply of casino money. I mean, that trek down the Parkway past exit 100 is difficult for someone of your stature.

I can't wait til Kean destroys this pretend senator in a debate. If Kean were smart, he'd concentrate now on South Jersey and work his way up north later.

Mark my words; the GOP picks off this seat come November.

More on the Tax Situation

2006-02-22T19:42:00.000-05:00

As HLN noted in the previous post, things are bad but not completely bleak. As I'm in Akron, OH visiting a client, I've only read the varied reports about last nights meeting.

The general feeling is that Mr. Schmidt and Mrs. Sarcone offered some ideas to trim the fat from the budget and the remainder of council was more pessimistic.

I respect the fact that they have taken a stand and are doing everything possible to back up what they promised while campaigning. To be honest, they can't be blamed and neither can Mrs. Olt. This problem started well before they assumed office.

That leaves two remaining members of council who by all accounts (again, I did not attend as I left early this morning) that I've received including--e-mails and such--offered nothing new.

I hate to keep harping on this but a true CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN would find some fat to cut or start preparing to make some hard decisions. Alas, being Mayor is not just cutting ribbons, it's also cutting spending.

I'll do my best to attend the next meeting and hopefully we can get some public input as to what should happen. Apparently the leadership of council is out of ideas.