School Budget Passes, with Counselor Position on Chopping Block

"The cuts are painful," Superintendent says, as students from both South Orange and Maplewood spoke out to protest cutting a school assistant counselor position.

The South Orange - Maplewood Board of Education passed a budget on Thursday that will see taxes rise in South Orange and Maplewood, despite personnel and other cuts. The budget passed 5 - 2, with Jeffrey Bennett and Wayne Eastman opposed. Two members were absent. The BOE passed a $104,473,642 preliminary budget for 2013-14 in early March with an operating budget with a 2.47% tax impact and an "all-in" total tax impact of 2.93%. Among the cuts is a Student Assistant Counselor; numerous students and the man who now has that job spoke out to protest the cut.  Columbia High School senior Ellie Williams gave an impassioned plea to the board both on Monday and again on Thursday to save the position of Student Assistant Counselor. Williams gave …

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Andrew Lee

1:31 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013

Board Member M. Pai had a medical emergency. She wrote a statement that another Board member read out loud at the meeting.   more ›

Township's Adopted 2009 Budget Now Online

Expenses and revenue sources itemized in document.

Maplewood's 2009 budget, adopted on Sept. 15, is now available online at the Township's Web site. The 67-page document itemizes expenses and revenue sources, including money from taxes, grants, parking meters, licenses and more.  Read the budget here (opens up PDF document).

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Laid-Off Cop Returns to Force

One of three officers let go because of budget cuts has been rehired by township.

One of the three police officers whose jobs were cut due to budget shortfalls earlier this year will return to the job. The township was able to retain the three cops' jobs for three months through a Department of Justice JAG grant. The township applied for an additional federal police officer retention grant to permanently keep the officers, but the application was denied. The town was able to rehire the officer, Justin Moen, after another left the force. "We were able to bring him back on only because one cop resigned," Maplewood Mayor Vic De Luca said. The outgoing policeman, De Luca said, was leaving law enforcement to go into teaching. Another one of the three Maplewood cops whose jobs were cut previously found work with the Passaic …

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Library Furloughs End

Both branches are open for business.

Today, both branches of the Maplewood library will be open. This marks the first time since Aug. 16 that both branches will be open at the same time. For the last three weeks, one or both of the libraries was closed for furloughs brought on by budget concerns. The furlough period included a week where both branches were closed at the same time. This year was the first time the library took furlough time in its history. For more background on the furloughs, click here. Update: the library has posted an explanation of the furloughs on their Web site.

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Library Furloughs Begin

The two branches of the library have staggered closing times, with one week where both branches are not open.

The good news is that you can keep books and movies out from the library longer than usual. The bad news is that you’re going to have to stay out of the library for longer than usual, too. On Monday, Aug. 17, the main branch of the library shuts its doors. That first week, library patrons can still take out books and movies, enjoy air conditioning and quiet at the Hilton library. The following week, both branches will be closed. The main branch reopens on Monday, Sept. 1, and the Hilton Branch reopens on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The libraries are going on furloughs due to budget cuts. It is one of a number of measures the library has undertaken to deal with a shrunken budget, including laying off employees earlier this year. With the furloughs, …

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No Fire Layoffs, Cops Get Temporary Reprieve

Township Committee announces that cuts to fire and police won't be as severe as earlier thought.

The firefighters union has agreed to concessions to hold onto jobs slated for layoffs, and the police officers in danger of losing their positions will stay on their jobs for three additional months thanks to a Department of Justice grant. Early in the March 16 Township Committee meeting, Maplewood Mayor Vic De Luca announced that the township had negotiated a deal with the firefighter’s union, and that the fire department layoffs could be avoided this year. Firefighters will forgo pay increases this year, and each fire department employee would be required to pay $500 in additional health care costs for a total of $20,000. De Luca later announced that the layoffs of three police officers would be delayed thanks to a $45,000 DOJ JAG grant…

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Mary Mann

9:32 pm on Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Adam,great reporting. This is really good news.   more ›

Maplewoodian: Library Budget Requests

The Maplewoodian reports on Saturday's budget presentation

The Maplewoodian reports that the library's proposed budget is $200,000 over last year. Considering the townhip's overall budget deficit, the Maplewoodian's Joe Strupp predicts the library could see budget cuts. Read the full story: LIBRARY FUNDING REQUEST FOR MORE, TOWNSHIP DEFICIT MAY MEAN LESS