CNBNews

BY BILL CLEARY

 It amazes me that *Gloucester City which has been labeled a poor community by the state of New Jersey is spending more too educate its students in public school than residents in nearby more affluent communities.

And although other nearby school districts  such as Brooklawn and Mt. Ephraim have been able to keep their school taxes at the same figure as last year, the Gloucester City school district is asking voters to approve a tax increase.  

The City of Gloucester City is still working on its budget, more than likely, based on the past 20 years; it too will be raising the municipal taxes.

Unemployment at 10 percent is at an all time high, people are losing their homes, and senior citizens and others on fixed incomes are making due with less. It is time for school districts and municipalities to do the same.

Keep in mind, even though we are in the middle of a recession plans to build a new elementary school in Gloucester City are still being considered. Five years ago when it was first proposed the projected cost was $26 million; the estimated cost has ballooned to between $60 and $65 million. 

You have a chance to voice your opinion on the school budget this Tuesday, April 20 between the hours of 2 PM and 9 PM. A negative vote will send a message that you are not happy with the way the Gloucester City school administration and Board of Education have managed the funding of the district. On the other hand if you advocate spending more to educate the students then vote in favor of it.

No matter how you feel it is important that you go to the polls and vote. It only takes a few minutes.

For those who don’t vote, don’t complain when your taxes increase this year and continue to go up through out the next decade.

Note: The figures above were copied from the advertised school budgets that have appeared recently in the Gloucester City News and the Retrospect weekly newspaper (Collingswood).