jf
-
The Basics
-
jf on Patch
-
More Stuff
Comments
-
On the article 'Housewives' Celebrate Fashion of Posh Boutique
-
On the article RHONJ Season 5 Will Be 'Intense' [POLL]
-
On the article 4th of July Event Could Be Scaled Back
jf
9:50 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
ReplyDan - Really? Maybe you shouldn't make characterizations about someone you don't know. I simply asked the question. So all civic events upgrade the community????
Whatever - I think the lack of interest in this article speaks for itself and to the lack of concern over this matter. We have real problems in this town and people in town have real problems their dealing with - -
On the article 4th of July Event Could Be Scaled Back
-
On the article 'Keeping Children First' a Recognition Point for Montville BOE
jf
4:33 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
ReplyThank you Ron! Dan, your argument suggests that we should get rid of county government all together implying they can't be trusted to be objective. When it snows, how can we trust the county to fairly handle plowing the county roads? "Who would trust County Government to not favor the Towns that have a political advantage for them" and plow the roads in those towns first?
-
On the article Sewer Connection Fee Could Be Lowered
jf
2:17 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
ReplyAt first I was startled at the lack of interest in this article, but then I realized that it's the absence of comments that really says it all. I'm sure I'm not the only one shaking my head - how sad.
-
On the article Municipal Budget Up With Raised Health Insurance Costs
jf
9:26 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
ReplyGARY: Please feel free to get more specific as to what percentage MOST employees are paying versus this sliding scale. (The contribution is a percentage of the premium that goes up along salary scale, i.e. higher-paid workers pay a higher percentage of their premium, maxing out at I believe 35%, plus an additional 7 percent of their salary for pension costs.) Private sector employees have been doing this for years with no sliding scale and most without a pension, just 401k's. I worked for the biggest company in the world - and no it’s Walmart - and other Fortune 200 companies and all of them require employees to make a hefty contribution toward their premiums.
All in all, I'm not looking to complain about problems - I'm looking for solutions - town - wide solutions not just salaries. I will reiterate my earlier remarks - we need a more fiscally responsible township with better budgeting skills so that everyone can benefit. This town is starting to feel like a carbon copy of our federal government. No cuts just taxes! And if that isn't going to work at the federal level it's certainly not going to work on the local level especially when you take into the account the cumulative effect of both an increase in federal taxes AND real estate taxes on spending and the ability of this economy to recover.
-
On the article Municipal Budget Up With Raised Health Insurance Costs
jf
9:15 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
ReplyGary - I am up to speed thank you - I wasn't referring to the Christi era. I hear plenty of family and friends in the public sector complain and moan about what Christi has done and what other states are trying to do as well and a collective sigh of relief from taxpayers. I am not denying anyone a fair wage - it is easy enough to find public sector employees' salaries on the internet if people think I'm being unfair. But when the excesses begin to weigh on the people that shoulder them that's unfair too. Private sector employees have no choice but to give up - not out of fear of being replaced - but because they don't have unions to support them. I always said if anyone needs a union it's corporate employees. I know kids out of college that are making much less than some of the entry level public employees without education. Additionally these people get overtime and other perks the entry level positions don't offer in the private sector.
-
On the article Municipal Budget Up With Raised Health Insurance Costs
jf
10:45 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
ReplySo what are they currently contributing to their health care premiums on a percentage basis? It's long overdue whatever it is and it's probably not much. No one in the private sector even gets sick days let alone the opportunity to bank them and take the cash upon retirement.And as far as vacation time - if you don't use it you lose it. I think a lot of people are pleased with Governor Christi's efforts to level the playing field.
Oh please someone else weigh in on this. Public employees have had it too good for too long and now they expect us to what - feel sorry for them because they too have to suffer with the rest of us. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
On the article Municipal Budget Up With Raised Health Insurance Costs
jf
9:47 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
ReplyA Walmart education? I think that's going just a bit too far. And I'm tired of people who think the private sector is SOOO different than the public sector that the same rules for budgeting can NEVER be applied. I'm not a corporation and I've been able to make cuts in my personal budget.
So there is no fat in the budget-every expenditure in the township budget is a valid one and every line of the budget has been methodically crafted? I am not suggesting reckless cutbacks for the township or the schools - that would be dumb, but calculated, thoughtful cutbacks DO make sense! What are the drivers of the cost of education? There are more factors than just faculty salaries. I'm just curious- what kind of increases are they getting on an annual basis as people continue to lose jobs, endure fractional salary increases, or just plain can't keep up with inflation ( and please no one blog about how inflation is flat - CPI is a lousy indicator - always has been and always will). The only people that will be left to pay taxes are the teachers and the town employees. Wouldn't that be ironic!
jf
1:22 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
Why do we give these people this kind of attention? Is this really newsworthy? Aren't there more important issues to cover?