What Happened to Democracy.
I am generally in favor of consolidation of services where it results in tax savings but a recent editorial in the Asbury Park Press really bugs me. They called on Allenhurst to reject reforming its own police department and instead merge with a neighboring town.
Now from what I read the majority of people in Allenhurst do not want that. So why should consolidation be rammed down their throat? If the majority are willing to pay more taxes to get what they perceive as better services why shouldn't, they be permitted to do that. If the minority does not like it they have the option to move. I would really appreciate a response from somebody from the APP. Please defend that position.
This issue is also present with schools. The new SUPER County Superintendents (and I am not yet sure of the mechanics of this I do not think anyone is) is supposed to be able to push school districts towards consolidation. If I live in a town with a great education system and next door is a poorly run school district why should I have to merge with the poorer (not necessarily in $ ) school district and wind up in a larger mediocre district. If the majority in the first town are willing to pay extra taxes for superior schools why should they be strong armed to merge?
Another example of this anti-democratic movement is the law that goes into effect this year that requires if a school district seeks to exceed the state mandated cap with a second question it has to pass with a super majority of 60%. Now no other budget in the state even gets voted on. Voting on the budget is a good idea. We should vote on the State budget every year. I wonder how often that would pass. I however have a real problem with super majorities. Why is not 51% good enough. It is good enough to elect our Governor or President. Why isn't it good enough for a budget?
In a desperate attempt to lower property taxes without addressing the root causes of the problem we are throwing a little thing called democracy out the window.
I am generally in favor of consolidation of services where it results in tax savings but a recent editorial in the Asbury Park Press really bugs me. They called on Allenhurst to reject reforming its own police department and instead merge with a neighboring town.
Now from what I read the majority of people in Allenhurst do not want that. So why should consolidation be rammed down their throat? If the majority are willing to pay more taxes to get what they perceive as better services why shouldn't, they be permitted to do that. If the minority does not like it they have the option to move. I would really appreciate a response from somebody from the APP. Please defend that position.
This issue is also present with schools. The new SUPER County Superintendents (and I am not yet sure of the mechanics of this I do not think anyone is) is supposed to be able to push school districts towards consolidation. If I live in a town with a great education system and next door is a poorly run school district why should I have to merge with the poorer (not necessarily in $ ) school district and wind up in a larger mediocre district. If the majority in the first town are willing to pay extra taxes for superior schools why should they be strong armed to merge?
Another example of this anti-democratic movement is the law that goes into effect this year that requires if a school district seeks to exceed the state mandated cap with a second question it has to pass with a super majority of 60%. Now no other budget in the state even gets voted on. Voting on the budget is a good idea. We should vote on the State budget every year. I wonder how often that would pass. I however have a real problem with super majorities. Why is not 51% good enough. It is good enough to elect our Governor or President. Why isn't it good enough for a budget?
In a desperate attempt to lower property taxes without addressing the root causes of the problem we are throwing a little thing called democracy out the window.
posted by Teddy Roosevelt at
8:03 AM
3 Comments:
Police departments and schools get aid from the State and Federal Governemnt. So it is more than just local property owners who are stakeholders.
Well aside from questioning why the federal and state Govt. should be giving out Grants because that is a whole dissartation a better solution to what you raise is making effeciency including consolidation and shared service one of the criteria for determining who gets grants. Incentives I am ok with a gun to the head I am not.
Then we agree. If a community wants to forgo outside aid to keep their local PD, then fine.
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