Do You Approve Of How Your Tax Dollars Are Spent?: Follow the money

Put your tax dollar to work for you. 

Find out more about how the money is being spent. The City of Englewood recently purchased Liberty School from the Board of Education. When did the money change hands? Why is it not recorded anyplace? Why is it taking so long for my opra of the transfer to be fulfilled? There are too many questions regarding money in Englewood, New Jersey.

How are our tax dollars being spent? Keep in mind that even if you live in an apartment building, you still pay property taxes. It is included in your monthly rent. The landlord responds to property tax increases by increasing your rent. Visit the website of the City of Englewood.  Review the services provided by the City of Englewood. Are you satisfied? Take your concerns to the City Council.

Tax Bill Percentages
Schools 46.19%  Pay more attention to this one. They are spending an awful lot of money and the children are not achieving. Expectations must be set higher for students and staff all the way up to the Superintendent. There is evidence of waste and segregation among students. They claim that every student has a college application and acceptance in hand upon graduation. Great. How many of them end up in remedial classes for literacy or math? How many of them complete college? Where is the data driven evidence from the last 10 years that supports the assumption that those college acceptances were even utilized? How many of those applications are in manila envelopes on the bottom shelves in guidance offices collecting dust?

Municipal  42.69% Your tax dollar is funding each of the services listed. I recently read an article about Gullah Island off the coast of South Carolina. Direct descendents of slaves live on a small island and survive by fishing and farming. Their taxes have recently been raised from $300 per year to over $3,000. They have only one paved road, no city water line, no gas line, no garbage pickup. Absolutely no services. What in the heck are they paying for? In the end, these direct descendents of former slaves will be forced off this valuable shore property. The land left them by their ancestors will probably end up as Timeshare resorts or beachfront hotels. America is defaulting once again on a promisory note. Check out the video-documentary that demonstrates how unfair taxation may be used to destroy entire cultures. Again, are you satisfied with the services that you are promised? Example: How long does it take to plow your street after a snow storm? How do you rate police and ambulance response time in your neighborhood? Actually and unfortunately I know about ambulance response time. As of 2011, it was rather satisfactory. Ask more questions. It is your right.
     Office Locator - Visit these offices. Ask questions and get your money's worth. A tree fell on a friend's car outside my house. It was a city tree, it flattened the car like a pancake and tore up the sidewalk. The sidewalk stayed that way for over a year. I am retired so I had time to watch people trip over this ragged place on a daily basis. I was not treated very nicely when I visited a city office and asked why the sidewalk was not being repaired. Lately, I have thrown nice away and I use a different tone when complaining about problems in my neighborhood.

Library 1.58%  - Are you and your family taking advantage of the services provided by the public library. It was also attacked earlier this year by budget cuts. Did you get excited? Neither did I. We must do better and demand more from our library. It must be something that we fight harder to keep. We must never allow an entity to enter our town or school system and abolish the library. We must also take advantage of available programs and demand more. Make sure everyone has a library card and knows how to access the resources on the home computer. My 15 year old granddaughter was slapped with nearly a $5 fine, because she did not know that she could renew the books online. The fines are getting rather steep. Avoid paying late fees by renewing the checkout of books and other materials online.
Friends of Englewood Public Library.
Children's programs.

County 9.42% Bergen County resources and services

County Open Space 0.12%
Open Space Partnership of Bergen County
Preliminiary 2015 Open Space Sub-Regional Funding Allocations
Municipal Park Improvement Program
Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland & Historic Preservation Trust Fund
Summary of Project Awards for the City of Englewood 1999 - 2009 (page 8) updated 2012

A sinkhole in Depot Square Park
July 9, 2012, 7:40pm

2001 Englewood Depot Square $25,000 Municipal Recreation
2002 Englewood Depot Square $37,500 Municipal Recreation
2003 Englewood Depot Square $125,000 Municipal Recreation
2005 Englewood Depot Square Amphitheatre $165,625 Municipal Recreation

2008 Englewood Basketball and Tennis Court Reconstruction $155,000 Municipal Recreation
2009 Englewood Denning Park Soccer Field $94,500 Municipal Recreation
2011 Englewood Mackay Park Play Equipment $50,000 Municipal Recreation
2011 Englewood Phelps-Mackay Park Gatehouse Historic
Preservation Plan $22,000 County Historic Preservation

August 25, 2015 - Update of Project Awards -  Page 12 for Englewood allocations
2011 Englewood Phelps-Mackay Park Gatehouse Historic Preservation Plan $22,000 County Historic Pres 
2013 Englewood Mackay Park Gatehouse Historic Rehabilitation Documents $16,000 County Historic Preservation 
2014 Englewood Glenbrook Park Play Area Improvement Project $11,000 Municipal Recreation 
2014 Englewood Mackay Park Gatehouse Exterior Restoration $166,150 County Historic Preservation 

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE COUNTY OF BERGEN OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED 2014 FUNDING ALLOCATIONS 
City of Englewood - $166,150.00 for Mackay Park Gatehouse Exterior Restoration

This hole is capable of
swallowing a small
child or a pet whole.
Imagine getting your adult
foot stuck in that.

Do you buy that $587,625.00 was spent on Englewood Parks since 2001? That amount makes me think of that tree bridge that lay across the brook connecting MacKay Park to 3rd street for years. It was dangerous and inviting to a group of children who no longer had a 3rd street walkway over a concrete bridge into the park.

I was trained in the theatre and would love the idea of an Amphitheatre in Depot Square. I would probably love it even more if it was in MacKay Park. The question is of course, where is the Amphitheatre? That is the park that I frequent with my grandkids. We go there after the library before going to McDonald's and home on Saturdays. Where is the Amphitheatre?

Dangerous!

When was the last time anyone ever admitted that we pay for the upkeep of parks and the "Open Space" of Bergen County? Does a fenced in MacKay Park still qualify to be called "Open Space" in the formula provided? Loopholes. Use the links and learn about Bergen County and Englewood's Open Space that is disappearing rather fast. I must really take another look at Depot Square Park and all of that renovation listed above. Amphitheatre?  Gee! Was $353,125.00 enough money to fix the very dangerous sink hole pictured to the right. rabbatomarco@co.bergen.nj.us





Tax Bill Dollar Components
Schools $49.1 million
Municipal $45.4 million
Library $1.7 million
County $10.0 Million
County Open Space $0.1 million
Open Space PartnershipofBergen CountyCounty Program Policy and Procedures Manual

Check out the dollar amount that is collected from tax payers for the operation and maintenance of schools. How much of that is used to directly impact student achievement? You would think that Englewood parents and residents would get more respect from the people who share the fruits of taxpayer dollars. The money is collected from all of us, not just the few that are high profile and well liked by the special folk. At school board meetings Dr. Carlisle promises that there is significant access to computers, because of the available units in the Library. Has Dr. Carlisle ever visited the Englewood Public Library?

Are we satisfied with the way our tax dollars are being spent?

Did you notice that tax abatements do not help homeowners? On the contrary, we end up funding the tax abatement of a developer that we never even wanted in the first place? Meanwhile, the big developer is reclining in his study looking out over the "open space" in communities like Upper Saddle River, Montvale, Bernardsville, or Alpine. Many of us are looking at a boarded up school building where our grandparents, parents and siblings attended school while watching our children play in the streets. These are questions that should be put to Lynne Algrant and the City Council. Perhaps Mr. Wayne Hamer might be able to answer a few of these once he is given the answers.

                                      Pride of Place.

Candidates Wanted!

The 4 Wards Coalition 4 Empowerment endorses the candidacy of Curtis E. Caviness. He is our choice for 4th Ward Council person. We reject the skulduggery. We do not condone practices that have given us a candidate that we had no part in selecting.

We are also endorsing the efforts of Code Red North.

Join us. We are encouraging the young people out there to get involved in your community government. It is a start towards taking responsibility for government. It is a way to create political persons who have compassion for the communities they serve. 

We need at least 4 people over 18 years old who have been voting residents of Englewood for at least 3 years to run for the Englewood Board of Education. We are changing the paradigm of education in our City. 

Email us your biography.

Members of The City Council

What is a City Council?

A City council is a form of government that is used in many towns and cities around the world.  The members are elected by the registered voters in the city. City council members are public officials elected or appointed to represent a ward or district of a city as the municipal governing body. It is very important to note that in the best scenarios members of each Ward elect their representative to the City Council. The responsibilities of a city council member generally involve determining city government and administration policies, as well as adopting budgets and legislation. 

City council members spend a lot of time in committee and subcommittee meetings where city business is discussed. City council members should also spend time meeting with citizens and representatives of groups affected by city government. They have council meetings and workshop meetings from which minutes are available if one cannot attend. Residents may search for all manner of information concerning the activity of the City Council by reviewing minutes of the meetings. Each of the 4 wards in the City of Englewood elects a councilperson. A Council person at large is also elected and must serve all wards of the City.

Who may serve on the city council? A candidate for city council must live and vote in the city for at least 2 years and be at least 18 years of age. (old enough to vote) A lot more people than one would think may be elected to the City Council. Aspiring politicians ripe out of high school and some still attending are encouraged in some parts of the country. Check out this study of America's Young Elected Leaders. It is an interesting study that surveys over 800 elected officials aged 35 and younger.

The chained Elmore Avenue entrance to MacKay Park

The number of city council members varies from city to city. For example, the New York City Council has 51 council members, while Phoenix has eight (not including the mayor). Because of the amount of power associated with these positions, competition for the job of city council member is high. Compensation for members of a city council varies by size of city and scope of responsibility. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5903401_city-council-job-description.html

We all know that the mere fact that someone holds public office places them in situations where something more than money is gained. In the lives of some people this attention is worth much more than money. One man is able to build his own little Empire before moving on to larger conquests. It is important for regular folks not to get caught up in the aspirations of those with this type of ambition. It is important for the everyday resident and tax payer to begin to ask some real questions about how things are going in "Our Town" now and in future. It is time to change the paradigm of how we react and fall into line when commanded to do so by folks with strong ambition and lots of money.

Englewood's Local government

Beginning in 1980, Englewood switched from a Mayor-Council form of government to a modified Council-Manager plan of government in accordance with a Special Charter granted by the New Jersey Legislature. Under this charter, the mayor retains appointive and veto powers, while the council acts as a legislative and policy making body, with some power to appoint and confirm appointments. The City Council consists of five members: four are elected from wards of roughly equal population and one additional member is elected at-large. Administrative functions are responsibilities of the City Manager.

Past and Present residents celebrate the 4th Ward

The mayor is elected city-wide to a three-year term of office and has significant powers in appointing members to the Planning Board, the Library Board of Trustees, and, with council confirmation, the Board of Adjustment. The mayor serves on the Planning Board. The mayor attends and may speak at council meetings, but voting is confined only to breaking a deadlock with an affirmative vote for passage of an ordinance or resolution. The mayor has veto power over any city ordinance, but can be overridden with votes from four council members.

The City Council consists of five members, each elected for a three-year term. Four are elected from the individual wards in which they live and the other is elected by a city-wide vote as an at-large member. The city is divided into four wards which are approximately equal in population. The City Council is the legislative branch of government, deciding public policy, creating city ordinances and resolutions, passing the city budget, appropriating funds for city services, and hiring the City Manager. The City Council meets generally four times per month (except during summer months) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englewood,_New_Jersey

United States Department of Commerce: United States Census Bureau

Demographics and Quickfacts for the City of Englewood New Jersey

Optional Municipal Charter Law - What are the available city charter choices?

New Jersey State League of Municipalities - The types of Municipal governments in the state of New Jersey.

4th Ward Residents: The position of 4th Ward Councilman will be listed on the ballot this year. Find the name of the candidate you support. It will be worth the extra few seconds spent in the voting booth to select the right man for the job.

Englewood's current City Council
Lynne Algrant - Councilwoman at large
Mark Foreman - 1st Ward
Michael Cohen - 2nd Ward
Eugene Skurnick - 3rd Ward
Wayne Hamer - selected by city council to fill Jack Drakeford's seat until the November 6, 2012 election. Word on the street is that Mr. Hamer did not follow procedure and get a petition signed by 4th ward residents in order to run to serve until Mr. Drakeford's term is over.
Is he a candidate or not? He did not petition to become one. If incumbent school board members must file a petition in order to run again, what pray tell, makes the City Council seat any different? Are folks making up rules as they go along again?

What Is A Tax Abatement?

What is a Municipal Tax Abatement?

"Each year in New Jersey, municipal governments forego hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue through reductions of or exemptions from taxes in the name of economic and community development. Referred to as tax abatements, these exemptions are granted typically to businesses and developers to encourage them to make improvements to property or to locate a project in a distressed or blighted area. The impact of such abatements is significant and far reaching and the financial stakes are high, involving billions of dollars in New Jersey property value. Despite these high stakes, in New Jersey little is done to monitor the use of such abatements, to ensure that they are appropriately awarded, or to determine whether they achieve their purposes.

Tax abatements result in significant foregone revenue and introduce tax inequities that deserve closer scrutiny. The recommendations in this report are geared toward broad based changes that will help to ensure more open and fair investment of taxpayer dollars and better decisions and outcomes in the future..."  A. Matthew Boxer, State Comptroller.

A few days ago, I commented on 2 stories in northjersey.com and my comments were deleted in less than an hour. The articles highlighted the fact that our City Council is planning to borrow millions in order to pay tax rebates to big developers that are slowly devouring our City. Deleted were the questions that are burning in the minds of many residents, especially homeowners. What is in it for the homeowner when the big developers build their multi unit dwellings and get tax abatement deals that save them millions of dollars? What is in it for the regular home owner Joe or Josephine when big developers cover all of the free space with concrete and walk away to their spacious and suburban properties leaving us with a giant complex that may not live up to the promises they made when brokering the deal? What is in it for us? Who is paying for the tax abatement due the developers not named in the northjersey.com articles? Who suffers the most in the wake of tax abatements?

Perhaps they did not appreciate the questions posed. Who knows why? It does not matter. The questions must be asked. It became totally clear during the Master Plan Public Hearing at Community Baptist Church that all roads lead to developing every inch of open space left in Englewood. It has always been a puzzle as to why tax abatements are so attractive. We are not so urbanized that the City cannot survive without this.

The burning question is this. What do the big developments and developers do for the average homeowner? Not one politician, friend or not has been able to give me a satisfactory answer. Who do you think is going to end up paying for all this borrowed money? Come on, you know. We are. The little guys.

Now let us discuss these above reproach volunteers that run our Municipality. What do they get? What is the reward for the Mayor, City Council and others to make tax abatement deals with the big developer? Does all of this connect to SEEK, the present board of Education and the Hill Folk?  Probably not directly, but it does raise questions that should be answered.

Closer to the point: What do the other Wards gain by appointing the 4th Ward Council Person of their choice? Why is it so important for them to control the 4th Ward? The answer is an easy one. We have the most undeveloped space. We have spaces that may be driven into blight so that area then reflects exactly the definition of the areas for which tax abatements are given.