STOP the Lacey Board of Education from Living in Debt!

STOP the LACEY Board Of Education FROM LIVING IN DEBT!!

Plan now to vote and say NO on March 11th, 2025 to any more school tax increases by referendum. Don’t forget this same governing body just voted to raise property taxes 9.9% in 2024. Let them fix the roofs with YOUR money that they already have.

$92 million is an exorbitant amount of money to be borrowing. Just because a debt is being paid off doesn’t mean it’s time to incur another huge debt. Even if the State kicks in 40%, the taxpayers are still liable for the rest!

Remember, they already took a 9.9% tax increase in 2024- far and above the 2% allowed by the property tax cap.

Just look at page 124 (Exhibit J-19) in the NJ DOE required Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). https://www.nj.gov/education/finance/fp/acfr/search/24/2480.pdf

It clearly shows a minimal amount of money for maintenance of their buildings. They let the roofs continue to leak even though problems began only 6 years after the 2009 solar project- the public was assured the roofs and panels would last 20 years!! It was all baloney. Now the current architect, FVHD, said those roofs were only 15 year roofs! Clearly the public was lied to in 2009. Worse yet, this new referendum plan calls for throwing away the solar panels on all 6 buildings before they are even paid for. That bond isn’t finished until 2029.

Funds in the operating budget were purposely diverted from maintenance to cover salaries and benefits due to poor board union negotiation skills. How do I know this?
I was a witness to it all with my 6 years on the Lacey School Board.

I welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone about this matter. The people speaking PRO referendum are mostly staff. Don’t believe them- they do what they’re told.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Discenza, former 2 term Lacey School Board Member
Sunrise Beach, Forked River NJ
Notary Public State of New Jersey, Service available upon request
Cell (609) 290-5125 Home: 609-693-6454 (9AM-9PM)