Budget Amendments Monday
According to a legal notice dated April 1 but just published this week, budget amendments will be introduced at 8 p.m. Monday in Municipal Court.
There is also a regular City Council meeting at the same time and place.
The text of the amendments was not available Thursday before City Hall closed for Good Friday.
The amendments, whatever they turn out to be, will most likely represent an amalgam of proposed cuts by the Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee and cuts identified by the governing body.
Monday's agenda will be very crowded even without the new item. We hope it will not just be glossed over, because citizens have been waiting for months to know the budget numbers for the tax year that began way back on July 1, 2008.
Although the city may receive approval for a $2.7 pension plan deferral, there may still be a budget deficit for 2009. Residents need to know the fiscal impact and we hope some will come out to Municipal Court at 8 p.m. Monday to hear for themselves.
--Bernice Paglia
There is also a regular City Council meeting at the same time and place.
The text of the amendments was not available Thursday before City Hall closed for Good Friday.
The amendments, whatever they turn out to be, will most likely represent an amalgam of proposed cuts by the Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee and cuts identified by the governing body.
Monday's agenda will be very crowded even without the new item. We hope it will not just be glossed over, because citizens have been waiting for months to know the budget numbers for the tax year that began way back on July 1, 2008.
Although the city may receive approval for a $2.7 pension plan deferral, there may still be a budget deficit for 2009. Residents need to know the fiscal impact and we hope some will come out to Municipal Court at 8 p.m. Monday to hear for themselves.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 2:43 PM
12 Comments:
Add to whatever city tax comes to be the 8% school tax. It would be wise for residents to come out so at least there are witnesses to what the council does or doesn't do. Bloggers can't help the city anymore than reporters do, is time for residents to step up and start demanding accountability.
I wish people would begin to understand that the city has no control over the Board of Education or the school budget. I think the City administration and the Council are doing the best they can in a bad situation. It should be up to the school administration and the Board of Education to do likewise--and citizens need to start wising up, paying attention, aiming some criticism at the Board of Education for a change, and demanding accountability from them.
11:16: The voters do have some say over the school budget. On April 21, Public question #1 is to approve or not the amount for general revenue, (the budget). Perhaps more than 12% will vote
Come on the state has been paying your education bill for YEARS and still is. You need to hold the town accountable because other towns have to conduct business on our tax $ PLUS give a LARGE portion to education. If plainfields taxes are so high already and its not going to Education all these years then where the heck has it been going?
I agree. That was the argument that our Assemblyan Jerry Green made when he voted to get rid of Abbott funding for Plainfield. He felt that it was time for Plainfield to pay their share for education like Westfield and others. Way to go Jerry, make em pay.
I would not compare the City and the BOE process. The BOE appears to be on target with addressing their budget issues. I read that the Superintendent and the Board were slashing 78 positions. The City still has not budget passed for the CURRENT YEAR!
Bernice, this is why I like this guy and why we need NEW leadership in the Mayor's office. Jerry Green goes on the attack of the superintendent when he seems to represent the kind of leadership we need in Plainfield. I know you have been covering the City's stuff but did not want you to miss this. Read below.
Pursuant to the employment contractual agreement between the Superintendent and the Plainfield Board of
Education, the Board shall perform a salary review on or before April 1 to discuss and determine a salary
increase pursuant to the terms of the employment contractual agreement. Based upon the current fiscal
challenges of the District, as well as and more important, the present collective bargaining in which the Board
and PEA are engaged, the Superintendent has requested to not seek the contractually eligible increase until
such time that the PEA contract is settled. Subsequent to reaching a settlement with PEA, the Board shall
provide for the salary increase consistent with the percentage increase agreed upon and awarded to PEA, not
to exceed the terms outlined in his employment contractual agreement. The increase shall be retroactive to
July 1, 2009, providing that the PEA contract is settled after July 1, 2009.
RESOLVED, that the Plainfield Board of Education accepts the Superintendent’s request to not seek the
contractually entitled increase until such time that the presently negotiated PEA contract is settled, and to
approve the salary increase agreed upon and awarded to PEA, providing that such increase does not exceed
the terms outlined in the employment contract between the Superintendent and the Plainfield Board of
Education. Such increase must also be in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:11-11. The increase shall be
retroactive to July 1, 2009, providing that the PEA contract is settled after July 1, 2009.
To 10:43 a.m. - I saw that item in the agenda and had intended to write about it. Dr. Gallon does seem to be responsive to the economic plight we are in and is keeping his focus on his job, despite the oblique potshots from JG.
I llok forward to your post and would love to hear your take. I know the City has been keeping you busy, with what, I am still awaiting as you. As for Green's potshots, Gallon seems to give just as good as he gets. Happy Easter, Bernice.
who cares about Gallons agenda item. Basically it states no raise until the contract is settled which has been the case every time we have not settled by the end of the contract. He is all words! Meanwhile all those admins are getting OUTRAGEOUS salaries and most doing nothing.
I beg to differ with 7:08 p.m. I think it is an honorable gesture since he really does not have to do it. It is obvious that you have a beef with Gallon. The administrator's contracts are what they are and were settled before Gallon arrived. This has NOT been the case. Trust me, I know. Regardless, I believe in giving credit where credit is due.
Settled before Gallon arrived, I beg to differ. Not so they were all placed on the july and august agenda. No beef with Gallon at all. Think he is doing great things, beef is with his team (with the exception of Bailey).
I do not find any honorable jesture in that statement. Am I missing something? No settled contract= no $, so basically staff can get no raises for years once again.
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