Wednesday, March 31, 2010

NJ Budget Woes Hit Home

It is finally starting to dawn on people that the fiscal woes in New Jersey might have a direct impact on the schools in their town. It seemed when Governor Christie first announced drastic cutbacks in state aid to schools many kind of shrugged it off, feeling that at the end of the day there would be little change. Well now schools, in introducing their budgets are revealing details and plans which are not pretty. Cutbacks are everywhere and most troubling is the number of people who are likely to lose jobs. Teachers, aides, secretaries, custodians, bus drivers…just about all departments are being affected. Sports programs in many cases are being eliminated or greatly reduced, school trips are out, class sizes will increase and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The cutbacks you are hearing about this week are based on these school budgets being approved by voters next month….if they are defeated than more cuts and reductions will have to take place. It is a dim picture that would challenge even the most optimistic because in this case the glass clearly is half-empty.

After that we need something to smile about and it will come in the form of Mother Nature. After two horrendous days of torrential rain and heavy wind we are in for a few nice days and what should be a wonderful Easter weekend. The month of March will end as the wettest in history for our area and this comes after a record-breaking snow total for February. Maybe April will be the start of something good.

A follow-up to something I mentioned last month and that being the annual fundraiser at The Office Restaurant and Lounge in memory of former owner Phil Citta. The all-day event raised $21,220 for the J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center at Community Medical Center. That’s better than last year and a tremendous total when you consider the economy, weather and other factors. Next year’s event is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th.

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