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ORADELL VS RIVER EDGE - SCHOOL FUNDING - ROUND THREE

The Riverdell Regional School District funding formula has reared its ugly head yet again.  On September 15, 2011 the Borough of Oradell filed its third petition with the State Commission of Education.  The petition seeks to change the funding formula from an equalized real property formula to a more regressive per pupil formula.  Since 1975, all regional school districts are funded by the equalized value of the district's real estate.  That means that a home assessed in Oradell for $500,000 pays the same amount of regional school tax as a home in River Edge assessed for $500,000.  That sounds fair right?  However, since 2006 Oradell has sought to de-regionalize.  First they tried with the Bergen County Superintendent of Schools and failed.  In 2007, they filed a petition with the Commission of Education which was denied.  Then they went to the Appellate Court which affirmed the Commissioner's decision in 2009.  Later that year, Oradell filed a second petition with the Commissioner which was rejected.  After those attempts failed, Oradell approved a referendum question which was on the ballot in April 2011.  Not surprisingly the referendum was defeated.  
Now, Oradell is wasting taxpayers’ money for new round of frivolous litigation. River Edge will waste more taxpayer money in fees for attorneys and experts.   There is nothing unfair about the regional school funding formula approved by the State Legislature and upheld by the Supreme Court.  Instead of a 6 year battle litigating its good neighbor to the south, Oradell should be discussing a merger of our three school districts into a single district to reduce costs.  Enough is enough already. 
If elected Mayor, I will pursue a dialogue with Oradell and fight for the residents of River Edge to protect public education and a fair funding formula.

Sandy Moscaritolo
River Edge Councilman