School budget increase is capped by State Law to coincide with the CPI guideline which was calculated @ 4.04
 
The proposed Piscataway budget increase is 3.6% or 5.5 points. For a house assessed @ $109,000 the increase would be $60.00.

Tax levy = $ 70,408,944
Total 2006-2007 School budget = $ 87,877,560.
Piscataway's state aid is about 20% - one of the lowest in the county - which makes up the difference in the total budget and the tax levy.
 
There was no budget increase in the 2005-2006 school budget
There now is a 3.6% increase over two years
Energy cost increased 35% - Transportation 7.4% - and Health Insurance 9%
 
The April ballot will hold a second question requesting $476,000 for some special projects - security doors for all the schools - special busing etc.
 
There is a scheduled open public meeting March 27th - 7:00 pm for budget discussion.

Star-Ledger Staff Writer Sofia Kosmetatos

For the last seven years, Piscataway has waged a legal battle against the Halper family to acquire the former Cornell Dairy Farm at South Washington Avenue and Metlars Lane for open space.

In addition to legal fees, the township has contracted for other services such as appraisals and environmental analysis.

But exactly how many taxpayer dollars have gone into the effort remains a mystery.

Piscataway charging $500 for records on legal fight - full story

Home News Tribune Online 03/5/06

I see that Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler and the Township Council are still going ahead with the Halper farm condemnation even though a jury recently set the 75-acre Halper farm price at nearly $18 million, which is more than four times what the township wanted to pay for it.

I find it disturbing that the mayor and council continue to press forward with acquiring the farm under the guise of preventing development of up to 300 housing units and preserving the farm as passive recreational open space, while at almost the same time rezoning an active recreational space (the Fairway Golf Center) to a transit village that can accommodate as many as 300 housing units.

The beneficiary of this sudden rezoning is the Jack Morris family, who are very important donors to Wahler's Democratic Party. The loser in all of this is the taxpayers of both Piscataway and Middlesex County, who now will have to pay for the Halper farm. This certainly reminds me of the Oak Tree Pond deal in Edison, where Mr. Morris made more than $5 million on his little acre.

John Costello

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The florist is pleased and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week."  The cop is happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a thank you card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later a Republican comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Republican is very happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open, there is a thank you card and a dozen different books such as "How to Improve Your Business" and "Becoming More Successful."

Then a Democrat comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill, the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Democrat is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Democrats lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between left and right.

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." -P. J. O'Rourke