Out of the darkness, construction equipment assembled and work started on the “Village School Addition.” A public announcement of the $13.5 million project was finally made (almost simultaneously) with the distribution of the district’s “Regional Review” newsletter this spring.
The pamphlet explained, “Using this capital reserve, and money from the Community Education Enterprise Fund, the cost for the addition does not impact local property taxes. This would be different from previous building projects where a referendum was approved to fund building projects.”
Shortly after, Larry Shanok (assistant superintendent for finance and board secretary) was quoted in the May 2 WW-P News as stating, “Holding tax increases to under 2 percent does have repercussions, and we are seeing that now, when we don’t have the reserves.” He is on the mark. The reserves were obligated to fund a capital construction project (without public referendum) and taxes now require increase.
District school taxes constitute 56.5 percent of the oppressive property tax burden on West Windsor residents. Personally my district school tax levy for 2015 is $10,650.81. We are not dealing with petty cash. It is disturbing that our school administration and board appear to have obligated our funds for a school addition without bringing the initiative to public referendum. I call for Shanok to explain of why our voices do not matter, while our wallets do.
Joe Wartski
West Windsor
