Letters

In recent months, there has been much conversation throughout the state with regards to a N.J. Citizens' Convention. The proposal for this convention is so the citizens of New Jersey can balance fiscal policy, tax policy, and as most know, specifically to address and tackle the major property tax issue that each resident of New Jersey is facing each day.

So is there a need for this convention? All fingers have been pointing to the fact that the Legislature in N.J. has failed. Why has it failed? As a whole, our elected officials have not worked in unity to put party agendas off to the side and focus primarily on the state of New Jersey and its residents.

We hear in campaigns about corruption, taxes, and pay-to-play, yet so often once these officials are elected, do they actually care about the citizens.

Not that it would be fair to say every official is responsible, but the final equation does show that New Jersey is in serious trouble. No matter how you look at the numbers, or who is responsible, we are New Jersey citizens and our state is in serious trouble.

The convention will empower the elected citizen representatives to hopefully address and provide a solution to these issues. The more people who hear about this proposed convention, the more that seem to jump on board and embrace it.

As with most things in N.J., this convention has only been proposed as a one-sided event. The convention will not empower the citizens to review and make determinations on the spending side of the budgets. This convention will not empower its citizens to take control of the overwhelming budget disaster that has been created over the past decade. The double standard is just another example of why things in the Garden State are in disarray.

As a citizen of New Jersey, I find it insulting that some officials feel that the citizens can come together and work on a solution at a convention for property taxes, yet they feel that we do not have the ability to bring balance to a budget that has had a lack of balance and vision to begin with.

When you think about it in simple terms of what is being said, our citizens are smart enough to discuss property taxes that our officials have failed at, yet some officials feel that we are not smart enough to address the budget that our officials have failed all of us on year after year.

I am urging all citizens in New Jersey to contact their government elected officials at all levels and express the need for the Citizens' Convention.

When reaching out to your officials, also emphasize the importance of a balanced convention, that will empower and authorize the citizens to address all issues. Property taxes is a real issue that affects the state, yet our out-of-control spending is no better.

In the end, if the convention takes place, and budget spending is not addressed, one thing will remain true - some type or form of taxes will be created or increased in the end that we will be paying for.

Fred Moltz

Aberdeen

State's school system a 'giant behemoth'

Gov. Jon Corzine is going around the state in town meetings telling us there will be no more state aid coming to our towns to offset funding to our schools. This will eventually lead to higher property taxes.

Let me introduce you to a giant behemoth - the New Jersey public school system. Roughly 60 percent of your property taxes go toward educating the future generation. This way of doing business as usual imposes an oppressive burden on seniors living on a fixed income. Also, it forces thousands of ordinary, hard-working people to leave New Jersey. This does not worry our representatives in Trenton because if you sell your home because of taxes, someone will buy it and contribute to a corrupt system.

One change is to get rid of home rule. School superintendents making more than $200,000 a year are part of the problem. Also, the practice of deferred taxes - where towns start collecting school taxes six months before they are needed - leads to a surplus that should be turned back to the homeowner. The School Construction Corp. must be looked at for abuse. Fraud needs to stop. Unfortunately, bloated school budgets have not been about doing the right thing for our children for some time.

In New Jersey, when a school budget passes without examination by the taxpayers, it's like hitting the lottery for those who will benefit the most - overpaid principals who get their job due to nepotism. People of New Jersey, wake up. Ask Jon Corzine or your assemblymen or state senators where all this tax money goes. We won't be fooled again.

Andrew Butzko

Port Monmouth section

of Middletown