During its backroom discussion, the Luna administration did NOT want voter approval to move the BOE Elections from November to April. Time and time again, they have fought to take opportunities away from Lodi voters. These are the same players that prevented the Lodi voters from voting on a referendum for the $7.5M administration building a few years back. In case you forgot:
The Luna council, Vincent Caruso, and Alan Spiniello are totally
disingenuous with their BOE election change effort.
In case they forgot:
When
Elections were in April, the turnouts couldn’t be lower and tax increases were
insane. Lodi school taxes increased 8% in 2010 and 6% in
2011. Budgets were being decided by a
handful of people. It was pathetic to watch.
Lodi taxpayers were paying a really high price to hold elections
in April. There are serious costs for poll workers, stipends for borough
employees, etc.
Schools
were inconvenienced as they did not operate on a full day
schedule with elections taking place.
There were serious
security risks by having people voting in schools while school was in
session.
The public gets to vote on budgets during November elections if increases exceed limits.
The public gets to vote on budgets during November elections if increases exceed limits.
Those are the reasons why the overwhelming majority of
New Jersey school districts moved BOE elections from April to November. And those are the reasons why the Luna administration
would rather plot in a backroom instead of having a conversation in public.
