Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Top 10 Better Names for the Campaign in Libya
From TopFive.com: Operation Odyssey Dawn is the name given to the current US military action in Libya. Really, USA? Really?? Even TopFive can do better than that!
The Top 10 Better Names for the US Military Campaign in Libya
10> Operation UN Clusterf*ck
9> Operation Air Force One Frequent Flyer Miles
8> Operation Bin Laden II: Bombing Boogaloo
7> Operation Quagmire Du Jour
6> Operation Raytheon Stock Split
5> Operation Sheen Diversion
4> Operation This Time, Get a Leader Whose Name We Can Spell
3> Operation Jerry Bruckheimer Presents
2> Operation Hey, Yemen! Yo, Syria! You Seein' This?
and Topfive.com's Number 1 Better Name for the US Military Campaign in Libya...
1> Operation Ghaddaful
The Top 10 Better Names for the US Military Campaign in Libya
10> Operation UN Clusterf*ck
9> Operation Air Force One Frequent Flyer Miles
8> Operation Bin Laden II: Bombing Boogaloo
7> Operation Quagmire Du Jour
6> Operation Raytheon Stock Split
5> Operation Sheen Diversion
4> Operation This Time, Get a Leader Whose Name We Can Spell
3> Operation Jerry Bruckheimer Presents
2> Operation Hey, Yemen! Yo, Syria! You Seein' This?
and Topfive.com's Number 1 Better Name for the US Military Campaign in Libya...
1> Operation Ghaddaful
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
VIDEO: Port Jervis School Board 3-15-2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
NOTE: No sound for the first 7 seconds
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Our Teachers Placed an Ad
The Port Jervis Teachers’ Association placed an ad in the Times Herald-Record, in the ad they have suggested several good ideas to help with our budget crisis. I thought I would offer my personal thoughts. Please, these are simply my opinions and are in no way representative of the Board of Education or the school district, they are just my first, off the cuff, impressions.
I could support using the remaining fund balance to offset the 2.8 million dollar cut if the PJTA could agree to a one year pay freeze. It’s a hard thing to ask of them. They’ve worked for and earned their pay increase. That said, simply skipping this year’s pay raise would save the district 1.1 million dollars, about a third of the aid cut. Combining that with responsible cost cutting measures and the district might be able to use remaining fund balance to offset most, if not all, of the state cuts. It would save jobs and education, this year.
It’s important to note that if the district did this it would be a one time, one year only fix. In this hypothetical scenario, the following year would bring the layoffs and deep cuts. The following year we would have to go through it all again. And there won’t be much, if any, funds left to offset the tax cap and whatever additional aid cuts might come. But it gives over 30 of our friends and families a year to plan and prepare.
This is a tough budget year and we're all trying to do what's best for the kids, the taxpayers and the people who work here. I've been laid off twice, I know that pain and it's a hard thing to live through. I feel horrible that I now sit on the body that would have to approve the laying off of over 30 people. Unfortunately, with the state cuts it has to happen, either this year or next, depending on which direction the district takes, because our community simply can't afford to make up the difference.
Warm regards, Steve
The PJTA has suggested that the school district take advantage of ‘Governor Cuomo’s initiative to provide and send to every school district in New York a “Waste Management Team” to assist in finding ways to reduce costs’.I could support this. It can’t hurt to let a fresh set of eyes have a look at the district’s finances. That said, I am a little uncertain about allowing a group of people with no vested interest in Port Jervis to start cutting away. We might find several programs we all hold near and dear, like music and football, on the chopping block. But, providing the recommendations are non-binding and at no cost, it would do no harm to let them have a look-see.
The PJTA has suggested the district sell the property it has set aside for a new school.I can’t get behind this for a number of reasons. Chief among them is the simple fact that this is the absolutely wrong time to sell property. It’s a buyers’ market, the district would lose money. Also, there may, someday, be a need for a new school building. It would be very costly to purchase new property and a new building at the same time. Whatever is ultimately done with it, retaining the land will benefit the taxpayers in the long run.
The PJTA has suggested we use remaining fund balance to offset the state aid cut. They gave a number of $6.6 million.That number is incorrect. Among other things, the district used a large portion of fund balance to pay for the remediation of the bus garage land (which represents an ongoing and growing cost), a large portion to pay down its debt load, and a portion remove asbestos at the high school.
I could support using the remaining fund balance to offset the 2.8 million dollar cut if the PJTA could agree to a one year pay freeze. It’s a hard thing to ask of them. They’ve worked for and earned their pay increase. That said, simply skipping this year’s pay raise would save the district 1.1 million dollars, about a third of the aid cut. Combining that with responsible cost cutting measures and the district might be able to use remaining fund balance to offset most, if not all, of the state cuts. It would save jobs and education, this year.
It’s important to note that if the district did this it would be a one time, one year only fix. In this hypothetical scenario, the following year would bring the layoffs and deep cuts. The following year we would have to go through it all again. And there won’t be much, if any, funds left to offset the tax cap and whatever additional aid cuts might come. But it gives over 30 of our friends and families a year to plan and prepare.
This is a tough budget year and we're all trying to do what's best for the kids, the taxpayers and the people who work here. I've been laid off twice, I know that pain and it's a hard thing to live through. I feel horrible that I now sit on the body that would have to approve the laying off of over 30 people. Unfortunately, with the state cuts it has to happen, either this year or next, depending on which direction the district takes, because our community simply can't afford to make up the difference.
Warm regards, Steve
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
VIDEO: Port Jervis Common Council 2-28-2011
Port Jervis Common Council
Monday, February 28, 2011
(Video by George Belcher)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
VIDEO: Port Jervis School Board 3-1-2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
1st Budget Workshop: February 15, 2011
