The Next Mayor of Newark WILL HAVE to do ONE THING - Add Lots of Debt

[5Reasons]

Although not discussed on this forum, last week the Governor announced that SCC, the company responsible for building new schools around the state, would go bankrupt in about two years. He also stated that most of the projects started PROBABLY would be able to be finished.

Even if the SCC money had been able to completely renovate Newark's schools, Newark was going to have to add on some signficant debt. But with the school fund going under, Newark is going to really have to run up the credit card over the next decade.

First, Newark needs to upgrade computer systems in several departments, just to catch up with the 90s. Modernization has yet to hit some areas and I still see far too much stuff being done WITH PAPER - YIKES. Whoever is elected mayor should conduct an assessment of how much it's going to cost. My own personal opinion is you're probably looking at something close to 200 million for internal modernization.

Newark also needs to invest in modernizing its ward based precints. For 100 million TOTAL each ward should be able to have a functioning, MODERN precint by 2010. And,since Booker is sooo far up the firefighters' butt, you can expect them to find 100 million in new firehouse construction/equipment needs.

The Newark school system is going to have to have several buildings redone, modernized, etc. The problem is, of course, is that the State still runs the district. Nevertheless, I think city hall and the state should work together to come up with a reasonable bond effort to have all new schools by 2012. The price tag for that puppy will probably be close to 2 BILLION dollars.

If the city does assist the NPS in building new schools then it should also request a change in the power relationship. Simply put, the Mayor should have some interactions with the school district. Remember the Golden Rule: He who has the gold MAKES THE RULES.

Either way, whoever is elected mayor in 2006 is going to run up some debt. If it's done in a correct fashion, it could go a long way to modernizing the city. However, this is Newark and capital projects are ALWAYS a dicey proposition.

I just figured I'd let you know before the windbags during the political seasons start touting their projects. You will get more debt! If done correctly, you will ALSO get more and better services. Anyone looking for a tax cut, however, should give up that dream in a hurry. Newark has several pressing needs.

[jazzyken]

why does the "next" mayor have to handle this issue. This NPS is under distress now and computers are needed now. See I think that is the problem. Things happen in "today" and everyone worries about "tomorrow". Why can't the problems get fixed today and we will enjoy tomorrow.
Just a thought!

[myhomenewark]

I thought that the state was mandated by the court to refurbish or rebuild urban schools. Of course, then, the suburbs began to cry for their piece of the pie so money had to be diverted to areas with less pressing needs. Maybe I'm wrong on this.

If Newark must chip in to pay the cost for school renovation, I predict that this issue will be juxtaposed against funding for the arena. That $200 million could modernize computers, right?

Concerning construction costs, here come some naive questions. Aren't there any half-vacant office buildings that could be modified more cheaply into classroom space (i.e., adaptive reuse)? Why not turn the Kreuger-Scott mansion into a school? Could that be cheaper? (??) How about connecting abandoned housing to create classrooms? Can they be brought up to code on a cost-effective basis and reused? What about an all-out adopt-a-school program asking metropolitan area corporations to become more active in the funding, or provide in-kind services, to make the city's schools work?

It seems that issues such as building/renovating new schools get painted into a bureaucratic corner instead of using out-of-the-box thinking.

[John Sharpe James, J.D.]

Under Whitman, she fought the courts stating that all kids were getting a good education (which we all knew to be false) and when they lost the case the Court ordered the State to set aside millions of dollars to build and upgrade schools in impoverished districts.

All the State did in Newark was slap a few coats of paint on some of the buildings and install a superintendant. And NOW the Governor has the audacity to say that the Cities must pay for their own education upgrades....all of this while the State Sports Commission is set to give the Giants 300-700 million for a new stadium! :(

[Doofus1]

Skeeter, the problem is that NJ still relies on property taxes to fund a portion of education costs. Support the the amendment of the state constitution to eliminate property tax as a funding tool for education. The state will then HAVE to fund all education costs though the income and sales taxes.

[John Sharpe James, J.D.]

But wouldn't you fear that folks would just move out of state as opposed to paying a portion of their income to support schools they may or may not have children in?

And who would be the watchdog to track EVERYONE'S income and salaries? I know the state has a hard enough time catching deadbeat dads. Imagine them trying to monitor and taxes everyone's income.

Food for thought! :cool:

[MrTim1955]

And who would be the watchdog to track EVERYONE'S income and salaries? I know the state has a hard enough time catching deadbeat dads. Imagine them trying to monitor and taxes everyone's income.


I think they are already doing this. If not, then I've been paying the state a lot of money every year that I shouldn't have been paying. They assured me it was a tax that everyone who wasn't rich enough to hire fancy lawyers and accountants was paying. :o

[jmax]

Is that the schools cost so much more than originally thought. Also-- the costs of labor and site acquisition was outrageous. My favorite example is in Jersey City-- where a charter school was built for about $8 million-- while the JCPS building down the street will cost about $83 million.

[ProSouth]

Glad you made it.

[5Reasons]

In the West Ward, NPS bought a former Ukranianian Catholic School and turned it into an annex. From the outside, it looks pretty good. Since it looks like the Newark Archdiose is cutting back on their heavily non-Catholic kids schools in urban areas, NPS will probably have an opportunity to purchase more of those units. I don't know what the structural pluses and minuses would be for that, but it should increase classroom capacity.