I am responding to Dr. Richard Perry’s recent column in the Sun, in which he referred to the proposed acquisition of the Bancroft property as part of the school district’s “vision” for Haddonfield.
We are, indeed, at a “crossroads,” to quote a term used by Perry.
Many of us who moved to this town for the terrific schools, lovely downtown, tree-lined streets, and wonderful sense of community are questioning the wisdom of our decision.
The Haddonfield Board of Education is asking taxpayers to support the purchase of a grossly overpriced piece of real estate (appraised at $8 million at the peak of the real estate market, for which we will pay over $12 million.)
This will saddle our town with even higher property taxes (we already have among the highest rates in the country) and further debt above the current $40,000,000+ in combined debt.
This past October, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Borough Commissioner Ed Borden said about Haddonfield’s property taxes, “they’re terrible . . . that’s a steep price even for a tony community with an elite public school system.”
I couldn’t agree more.
And what will the higher property taxes cover?
The future of our children?
Apparently Perry refers to a very distant future.
Not a single penny in the Bancroft proposal is designated for fixing the school district’s existing buildings, installing additional smart boards or other sorely needed technology.
The only amenity the bond money would fund is a “multipurpose athletic field and related site parking” (read: artificial turf) to the tune of about $1 million. This, on top of the two turf fields that the school district has already agreed to install at the high school.
The money to fund the construction of new educational buildings at Bancroft would require many millions more. Is that vision? How about using the tax money we’ve already paid to address existing problems before going on a buying and building spree, i.e., the high school’s leaky roof and technologically deficient library, as well as the pitiful state of the existing athletic fields (how about fixing those first).
Keep in mind that the additional property tax of $189 per year per household that Superintendent Perry refers to in his column is only the beginning.
Future construction of new education buildings would cost many millions more. Can we afford such additional costs at a time when New Jersey is in a deep recession? And the average $189 will be in addition to the 2% annual property tax hike that the State permits, which Gov. Christie may raise due to Hurricane Sandy damage.
Unfortunately the school board has lost its vision. And I’m sorry to say that my vision for my family has also been forced to change: Once my kids hit college, we hit the road.
And what do I envision for the town?
A glut of Haddonfield homes that can’t be sold because, as nice as the town is, it ain’t all that!
Beth Zigmund, MD
