Second Lieutenant Joined: 1/28/2010 From: Ball Street Posts: 26

Invest in the future, no cuts to school aid!

Recruit Joined: 2/24/2010 From: Deerpark Posts: 10

I guess Ron White was correct, "you can't fix stupid."

Major Joined: 8/7/2008 From: Port Jervis, New York Posts: 210

I guess my mother in law was right when she used the quote "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink".

Second Lieutenant Joined: 1/28/2010 From: Ball Street Posts: 26

Both passed by large margins!!!

Captain Joined: 5/10/2009 From: Deerpark Posts: 104

i to hope it doesn't keep the no voters home but for sure if it comes back no again they will say it was the weathers fault and we should expect another vote next month

Lieutenant Colonel Joined: 9/16/2006 From: Port Jervis Posts: 348

I was at the middle school between 3:30 and 4 there was a nice flow in and out, I had 3 people in front of me on line (ive never had to wait before)

First Lieutenant Joined: 8/20/2009 From: Port Jervis NY Posts: 92

I did my part. Glad I went earlier today. Hope the storm doesn't keep all the "No" voters home!

Second Lieutenant Joined: 12/1/2009 From: Deerpark,NY Posts: 26

Today is the day to send them a big message: NO NO NO NO NO AND KEEP ON SAYING NO MAYBE THEY WILL LEAVE

Lieutenant Colonel Joined: 5/8/2007 From: Deer Park Posts: 341

Received the mailing from the District. The claims of savings are wildly inflated over realistic savings, on a par with the $556,000 that we are supposed to save this year on transportation. Really, $286,000 in energy/telephone savings? When will the people wake up to these phony numbers? And then the gall to say, although we project $286,000 in savings we only used $190,000 to offset the bond. What about the other $96,000 in projected savings. They don't even bother to say what they anticipate it would be used for if their projections are accurate and that is exactly the point. They know their projections are bunk! Doesn't seem to bother some posters here that Mr. X treats us all like idiots. They have that "for the children" mantra going. At a dire fiscal time, like now for example, if these repairs are so critical, so they say, why not ask the public to authorize a withdrawal from the building reserve fund. It has more than enough money to pay for the bond. You know, use the fund for the purpose it was created. Then Mr. X, when you create your savings using the reserve fund you can ask the public to put it back in reserve. Nope! No such thoughts from Mr. X, just more money from the public that we will never get back. Even when the bond is paid, just more money to spend, like all the other bonds over the years. At least we can be honest here. Do you as a taxpayer want to pay 1% higher taxes, on top of each annual increase, each year, for the next 10 years to pay our share of the bond? That is the real question tomorrow. Other posters, please stop the nonsense about Albany or Washington because that is our tax money as well. $1000s paid here in land tax and $1000s more paid in state taxes/fees on just about everything and $1000s more paid to the federal government through taxes/fees on everything else. More than 50% of your pay and even more if you are doing well. Understand that your true "school tax" is your land tax + the percentage of all your taxes/fees you pay the state that goes to school aid + the percentage of all the taxes/fees you pay the federal government that goes to school aid. It is more than you pay, by far, for anything else, including the military. Before anybody starts talking about what corporations/businesses pay, keep in mind that when costs go up in the way of taxes to corporations or other businesses it immediately reflects in what you pay for goods and services through increases in cost. So the taxes on those nasty big corporations (don't you just love when government tells us they are going to tax those guys) are inevitably paid by you and me when we pay for their product. So, in addition to every $ mentioned, add the cost added to everything you buy so that the company you are buying from can pay its taxes. In the end Joe Average pays it all. Stop falling for the government shell game where one level blames another and they all blame big business. Unlike you or me their budget always goes up, every year and schools are the worst of the lot. When they speak to me honestly, like an adult, I'll think about voting yes. Port Pride? How about Port Respect? We all know why this is billed as costing $0, because if it was one dime more it would fail. Being untruthful and false projections were required and we have just the right administration for that.

Second Lieutenant Joined: 12/1/2009 From: Deerpark,NY Posts: 26

To anyone who is logged in to support the board of education and administration, evidently you don't feel the same pain in your bank account as the rest of us. Port Jervis will always support the students. But to those of you who support this administration, boo! You have given them higher salaries than any other administrators...Why? You have given them your vote when their hiring practices go against all rules and regulations...Why? You keep giving them your support when you have watched buildings go into disrepair even when they have received monies time and time again to fix them...Why? They have proven to all that they don't deserve to be in charge by their antics. They have taken your money to buy flat screen TVs, for the horrible looking McDonald looking arch at the high school, for upscale new furnishings at the main office which was not needed at the cost of almost $90,000.00, and now the new furniture for the teacher's lounge. I cannot believe your eyes are still shut. Their misdealings have been posted here many times. Their misdealings have now been outed regarding the Civil Service press release that the local newspaper did not see fit to print because they did not want you to know. Why are you still backing these crooks? I guess you followers and backers of this crew of bandits are looking to really destroy the school system. That is destroy it more than it already is if that is possible. You are not community people. You must be some of the few who are getting payback of some kind, i.e., you want your relative hired, you want your relative to get a contract, you are a member of this joke of a board, or you are one of their brown nosers who think by hanging on their every word you will be rewarded in some way. Shame on you for stealing the children's education.

Lieutenant Colonel Joined: 6/30/2008 From: Huguenot Posts: 271

Senior, we wanted healther, safer, and more efficent schools thats why the other referendums were past by the taxpayers. Most of this was to be done for that 16 plus million approved by voters. So what happened? No questions on your part, don't care what the money was used for? The savings you are talking about should not be an issue because these improvements were to have already happened. Strange that people now are concerned about the kids, but when some asked why certain projects were never done for the money given in referndum and concern about the schools, it was said oh they just have issues with the administration. Funny where's your issues, oh yes it's those hateful taxpayers.

Major Joined: 8/7/2008 From: Port Jervis, New York Posts: 210

We all hear the words of the Port Jervis School Board and school administration. Words do not mean action. Furiture, wall paneling, and flat screen televisions were deemed more inportant in the past than safety issues and energy savings. Two prior defeats of similar referendums should be sending the school district a message loud and clear. They refuse to hear it.

Second Lieutenant Joined: 1/28/2010 From: Ball Street Posts: 26

Tuesday's Vote in Port is a Winner for Kids  and Taxpayers!!!   Port Jervis School District residents will have the opportunity to vote on two renovation projects this Tuesday for a combined $14.6 million.  87% of the project will be paid for by state aid.  The remaining 13% will be paid for with the money the district will save in energy costs thanks to new windows, heating and plumbing work.  You read it right.  The taxpayers will NOT see a tax increase by voting yes.  In fact, the estimated annual savings is $286,000 while the 13% local share is only $190,000 per year.  Thus, this savings will help us hold the line on taxes in the next budget as well.   What happens if it is defeated?  The most urgent items need to be addressed regardless of Tuesday's outcome.  If the community says no then the highest priority projects will be included in next year's annual operating budget.  This would have an impact on taxes because the 87% state aid wouldn't be there to help pay the costs.  It only takes $250,000 to raise the tax levy one percent so our plan is to keep all of this work out of the annual operating budget.   New York State takes income tax out of our paychecks every two weeks.  It is time we get some of that money back to help our community improve its schools AND hold the line on taxes.   If you want the schools to be healthier, safer and more energy efficient, vote YES.

Recruit Joined: 8/7/2009 From: Orange County Posts: 7

Ok, so is it or is it not going to cost the taxpayers money?? Are they going to pull the $190,000 out of their butts? I'm not voting for it. I don't trust them. This article was on Mid Hudson News website this morning: Port Jervis school district voters get second crack at $14 million in renovations PORT JERVIS – Over $14 million in upgrades and renovations to Port Jervis school district facilities will come before a vote of the public Tuesday. Residents last November rejected a similar bond, but this one, if approved, with cost voters nothing. Schools Superintendent John Xanthis said under the new plan, state reimbursements will cover most of the costs with no increase to taxpayers. The work must be done, though, he said. “If it goes down, we have to do some of that work, at least some of the windows, the PA system at an elementary school,” he said. “Some of that money would have to go in the budget or we would have to put that money in the budget and pull other things out and we would love services for kids and some people might even lose jobs.” Xanthis said the new local share in this plan would be $190,000, but the district would save $280,000. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on February 23.

Major Joined: 8/7/2008 From: Port Jervis, New York Posts: 210

It seems lately I am bombarded with letters and editorials refering to the fact that I would be foolish not to vote yes on the Port Jervis School Referendum. Perhaps if the school board and administrators had exerted even half the effort building public trust they could easily pass their initiatives.

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