The administration announced at the September 10, 2008 board meeting that there was over $200,000 of funds available for the 2008-2009 budget, they did not know existed.
This is not the first time a budget was presented to the board, which did not accurately reflect revenue.
One year there was a discovery of a real estate transaction amounting to over $900,000, which was not tabulated. Last year, additional revenue of $880,000 was miscalculated.
The administration has no credible explanation for their inability to present accurate budget numbers.
The effect of the “unknown” funds is that millage is raised unnecessarily or too much.
The taxpayer gets hit twice. Once for being overcharged for millage, then when the board transfers the surplus to Capital Reserve instead of using it for property tax relief.
There needs to be an overhaul of the budget process and the reasonable disposition of additional funds to insure community confidence in the administration and the board.
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87 comments:
I believe at the board meeting in the Middle School Cafeteria a statement was made by the board that the taxpayers would not be paying the bill for the lights.
GUESS WHAT?
Last night the board moved to put the $50,000 Nextel check into capital reserve fund to pay for the remainder of the track and $12,000 FOR THE LIGHTS!
We were assured that no taxpayer money was going to be used for the lights. The ???? poor excuse that Nextel money isn't taxpayer money is ????????!
It's money that could be used for the daily operation of the school district which our district absolutely refuses to do.
Add to that, the four-way alerts that the Middle School has for the sewer tanks did not work. Four checks for this system and not one of them worked. Let me remind you that this building is only 6 (five) years old!
Who was responsible for the Middle School construction project? Is this the same person who screwed up with the Amthor Steel.
Can anything be done correctly in this district?
These questions need to be answered.
I work hard for a living and to know the board could have given my family a break in school taxes, but did not is heartless.
Now, I read a new building is having problems.
Don't you pro-board apologists see a pattern of mismanagement in all this? You can't be that blind. The leadership in the Oley Valley School District, both on the board and in the administration needs to be held to account and replaced. How much incompetence can we afford?
As for the alarm systems not working, shouldn't they have been tested periodically? If they had been they might have found out ahead of time that they weren't working. Now you have to wonder whether the smoke alarms or sprinkling systems work.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
Politicians never change their stripes only their excuses.
The liberals in Oley are only too happy to tax families out of their homes.
Hear the kids are tired after coming home from hockey and soccer games at 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. Complaining they cannot get their homework done.
I guess the next move by Oley is to eliminate homework.
This is what happens when parents live their lives through their children. The kids are getting up at 5:30 to 6:00 a.m. to get on the bus by 6:30, 7:00 a.m., come to school, have to sit around school for two to three hours before the bus leaves for the games, play the game, not eat, and then get home by 10:00 p.m. These children are supposed to be going to school, not be the entertainment for parents.
We have all forgotten that they are children. This is a very sad situation.
Go Oley Go. Hooray for the ADVENT OF LIGHTED FIELDS!
Oley School Board votes to remove up to $250,000, to keep the budget under 8% limit instead of keeping it to offset taxes.
Here we go again!
It sounds like they are playing a shell game with our money.
Gas prices are still high, the cost of food is not better, people losing jobs , but the district wants to play games with our money. I hear one board member is off giving relief to out of staters. How about showing some of that concern for local taxpayers.
Cindy,
Don't you get tired of blogging to yourself?
Things must really be going great in the school district. It's time to change the name of this blog to Oley Disinterested Citizens.
The Oley School Board meetings are no longer the most entertaining in the county. Check out B2 in the Reading Eagle this morning. There's fun and games going on at Boyertown board meetings. They should be selling popcorn.
Alaska has the Road to Nowhere, OVSD has a track that it cannot afford.
The track's already paid for
Will the state be willing to bailout a school district that spent millions on a track to curry favor of a special interest group before an election, full well knowing they had more important obligations to meet?
I wasn't aware that the district needed to be bailed out? Where do people come up with these things? The track is there so get over it. You are probably one of those still mad that they built an elementry school. Also if they curry favor with special interest groups as you say they would have voted in favor of football wouldn't they?
8:06 AM, September 30, 2008
Typical comment from a feel gooder more than willing to spend others money for his pleasure. Education can take a back seat to his selfishness.
You use "his" twice in your comments. Sorry, but my husband might disagree.
I personally would like to see tennis in the valley.
I think a meeting should be set up with Dr. Zackon about possibly having the tennis courts resurfaced behind the administration building.
Lights would be nice too!
Tennis would be awesome!
It is a shame that there is no tennis team at Oley. The downfall to trying to get tennis would be somebody would complain about it.
I agree about the tennis courts. I can't begin to tell you how much I lobbied for more tennis courts and to have the existing courts tended to. In order to have a tennis team the PIAA requires, I believe, at least four courts. Needless to say, I was always told there wasn't enough interest or money. Never mind that they had hundreds of thousands in the capital reserve fund that could have been used.
They put in new fields and lights with no problem but couldn't allocate one dollar on something that would benefit the entire community.
"I think a meeting should be set up with Dr. Zackon about possibly having the tennis courts resurfaced behind the administration building.
Lights would be nice too!"
There are not enough kids to have a tennis team. We would be the doormat of Berks County just like Fleetwood's football team. A waste of tax dollars just to stroke a few people's ego when the money could be better used for education.
How is resurfacing the existing tennis courts stroking a few people's ego? To let them deteriorate is also a waste of taxpayer's money, isn't it?
Also, before I would go out on a limb and say there isn't enough interest for a tennis team I would at least do a survey of the student body to find that out for a fact.
If whether you win or not is to determine if we should support a team then there are several sports we currently have that should be dropped because of a string of losing seasons.
Paying for tennis courts in the middle of a recession as we try to keep our jobs and our heads above water is arrogant and irresponsible.
All ready to watch the Sarah Palin show tonight. She is debating some fossil with a bad hair transplant. The fossil will have the harder job tonight trying not to be his nasty, angry real self. Palin can just be herself.
Go Sarah!
NOBAMA
Mother of two:
So was putting in lights and a track. Because of that, our taxes will continue to go UP, UP, UP AND AWAY!
The "bailout" had $150 Billion of pork. OVSD has $2,000,000 of pork, a track to nowhere.
Kids complain they cannot afford to pay $25.00 for parking, but can afford a car.
Since when are the school districts allowed to charge the taxpayers to park on their own lot!
How is this money accounted for?
Does this show up as revenue for the school district, or is it tucked away, with no one knowing how much there is, as is the usual at Oley.
What's going to happen with the Swaption if Wachovia is bought?
Ralph, where are you going to work?
Pay to Play. Times are tough. School districts need to cut costs. Fair is fair.
Wachovia is merging ...not going out of business....don't you know anything about business.
God Bless what's left of our beloved country. It will never be put on the right track by "Joe 6-pack".
"Wachovia is merging ...not going out of business....don't you know anything about business."
Wrong. Wachoiva is being taken over or sold to Citi Group or Wells Fargo. Wachovia will no longer exist. They will be forced out of business.
You can thank the Democrats for this mess.
They forced banks to make sub-prime loans through the Community Redevelopment Act and they refused to put controls on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
When you see your 401, IRA, pension, college savings, retirement savings wiped out you can thank the Democrats.
Right....like I said merger...two companies becoming one. The implication on here was that everyone with a Wachovia account was losing their money and their employees would all be out of jobs. Mergers happen every day
Where on this page did you read everyone with Wachovia accounts were going to lose their money and all the Wachovia employees would be out of jobs?
Talk about putting words in people's blogs.
And the previous poster is correct. Wachovia is history!
"The implication on here was that everyone with a Wachovia account was losing their money and their employees would all be out of jobs. Mergers happen every day"
Anyone who has stock in Wachovia took a major hit. Deposits in the bank are FDIC insured.
Mergers do not happen every day, but they do happen.
This was not a merger but a Bailout. Wachovia CEO was not honest on Kramer when he said he had control of their bad loans. Taxpayers are picking up the pieces of bad and greedy management.
There is no putting lipstick on this pig.
Where are your comments, 5:52 from 10/7?
The market sinks into a deep hole. People's savings and jobs will disappear. Local government credit will be in jeopardy. Can OVSD survive?
Can the OVSD survive? Are you nuts? Can WE survive? All we need yet is for Obama to get elected and that will about finish us off.
You're awfully quiet, 10/7 5:52.
He/She is busy eating crow.
The Bailout is not working. Property values decline to the point where people should consider appealing assessment.
Time for the district to stop having steak and try hamburger helper like the rest of us.
The bailout hasn't even started yet.
"Time for the district to stop having steak and try hamburger helper like the rest of us." Examples, please?
The bailout hasn't even started yet.
Wrong. The banks have $250 billion and they are sitting on it.
"Time for the district to stop having steak and try hamburger helper like the rest of us." Examples, please?
Taj Mahal unnecessary buildings, grandiose track with lights, bloated administration, high paid administration, overpaid teachers, outrageous benefits for half year work.
Time for the real world of doing the work of two for half the pay with no benefits, little or no health insurance for a full year's work.
We barely survive and forget about saving for college or retirement.
Educrats have a GUARANTEED pension increase courtesy of LOCAL taxpayers.
Enough examples!!??
Are you saying we should tear down the Taj Mahal, rip up the track, and cancel the teacher's contract? You sound like a very bitter person who just hates public education. What's done is done. Quit dwelling on the past.
Meeting: 10.15.08
From a taxpayer's perspective there were two items of interest.
The district had an audit and there were no findings against the school.
The board was given an estimate to renovate the high school gym. The price tag could be at least $1,400,000, but probably more.
Kessler needs to go !
When I heard Kessler was out campaigning for Obama that was all I needed to know. My vote is going for Gokey!
Gokey is no better. In fact, he makes Kessler look okay.
Gokey is a system feeder. His wife is a teacher, so he's been living off the taxpayers.
He's also a builder, and looking to build more.
Better check out his record on the Amity Supervisors.
I'm not voting for Gokey or Kessler.
"Are you saying we should tear down the Taj Mahal, rip up the track, and cancel the teacher's contract? "
You asked for examples and you go them. The board spends too much money on toys and unproductive staff.
Stop spending more money than families can afford.
Hard to understand for some but easy for those who pay the bills.
"You sound like a very bitter person who just hates public education."
A person who thinks public education aka. educrats get more money than they are worth for part time work.
"What's done is done. Quit dwelling on the past."
If you don't learn from the past, you will continue to make the same blunders.
"Time for the district to stop having steak and try hamburger helper like the rest of us." Examples, please?"
OCC:
"The board was given an estimate to renovate the high school gym. The price tag could be at least $1,400,000, but probably more."
The board has a gourmet taste that is NEVER satisfied. The system feeders and abusers are one in the same - GREEDY & SELFISH.
To 9:44am and 4:21pm:
I can't wait for next year's school board race so I can vote for both of you. Oh, you aren't running? I thought so.
just complaining
"I can't wait for next year's school board race so I can vote for both of you. Oh, you aren't running? I thought so."
If you do not run for office you are not allowed to speak. This logic is that of a fascist Marxist.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH, 1ST AMENDMENT, get it and get over it!
The FACTS has the Oley leftists upset. Too bad.
I think it's time for Dr. Cappa to call it quits. He hardly ever attends board meetings, and last year missed 3 or 4 and this year, I believe, has already missed 3.
Find it interesting that he ran again, since he quite obviously is neglecting the duties he was elected to perform.
There is only one reason why he ran. The current school majority wanted to keep it that way.
Show up or STEP DOWN Cappa!
Reading Eagle Headlines
Wilson School Board Puts Athletic Field Project On Hold
OVSD goes ahead and wastes $2,000,000 on a track and now wants to spend $1,400,000 on a gym.
Can we outsource our school board?
Just like the track, the board will try to tell us the 1.4 million for gym renovations won't cost the taxpayers anything. Yet every year our taxes go up. Anyone who believes that are the same fools who believe Obama isn't going to raise our taxes.
At the last board meeting Dr.Cappa voted against renovating both high school gyms. Still want to get rid of him?
If you want a laugh read the story in this morning's Times about the Schuylkill Valley school board meeting.
Parents, coaches and residents "packed" the meeting to tell the board how they wanted the $1.6 million spent that was left over from renovation projects. The proposals(demands)included a new field house, an all-weather track, turf fields, a weight room and a locker room. Not one dollar was proposed for any education related items.
Didn't anyone even consider using the money to pay down their debt or give some property tax relief? The misplaced priorities going on in school districts these days is mind-numbing. Where have all the adults gone?
"The misplaced priorities going on in school districts these days is mind-numbing. Where have all the adults gone?"
"People" want government to solve all their wants. It is called Socialism. The hard working are forced to give the fruits of their labor to the deadbeats.
Cappa needs to show up or step down.
Very simple.
He also voted for the lights and the track.
Your point would be?
Where does the Oley Valley Township post all its finances like its yearly budget, income, savings, etc. I see other Townships post in the newspapers. I was wondering how much Nextel money Oley has and what its been spending its money on. I see at the top post they have to report at a meeting but do they publish on a certain date and in a certain newspaper? Maybe this blog could start scanning in public Oley records for transparency? If you want to post the budget, minutes from the HARB, etc. I'd chip in.
"If you want to post the budget, minutes from the HARB, etc. I'd chip in."
This is an open blog. You can post comments and information on any topic of interest.
Reading School Board Gores Taxpayers
The Reading Eagle reports the Reading School Board approved an exorbitant contract with the teachers' union.
The teachers will get a 7.5% first year increase, then 5% increases the next three years!
The private sector employees do not see these increases in normal times. But to award these terms in a recession is mindless.
The article did not indicate what if any concessions the union gave on health care benefits. Most contracts, the teachers pay very little towards their insurance. In the private sector, it is just the opposite.
42,000,000 people do not have health care coverage at all. The ones that do, pay a king's ransom.
Neighboring school boards will be under pressure to match Reading's giveaway.
The Reading School Board's action is a slap in the face to all taxpayers in the county.
Al, what happend the the format/ style of the postings here? Very small, dark, difficult to see and read. Why not pay the extra $10 and go back to the old way?
"Al, what happend the the format/ style of the postings here? Very small, dark, difficult to see and read. Why not pay the extra $10 and go back to the old way?"
For some reason, Google changed the font settings on the blog. They have been revised and enlarged for better reading.
Revised and enlarged for better reading? Sorry, but it didn't work out that way.
"Revised and enlarged for better reading? Sorry, but it didn't work out that way."
Get a new eyeglass prescription.
"Revised and enlarged for better reading? Sorry, but it didn't work out that way."
Just another drive by liberal who thinks others should meet his demands. If you can't read get your GED.
What terrible things to say. I was merely trying to state that this new format is harder to read than the previous one. Sorry to state an opinion that differs from yours.
This blog looks fine to me.
Now the lettering has changed from white to yellow on my screen... much easier to read (I didn't even have to change eyeglass prescription or get my GED).
When can Oley expect to see our antique state senator O'Pake deliver some real funding for our school district? He is the reason our property taxes are out of control. The only thing O'Pake ever delivered is one of those maps he hands out at every photo op and free dinner he attends. (maps that we pay for!!!) He is so old that he has never heard of MapQuest, Google Maps or in car navigation.
I agree. O'Pake has buffaloed the taxpayers for the last 30 years. He's another space-occupier who hasn't paid back that pay raise yet. He's paying in back in installments.
Kessler is doing the same. Our taxpaying dollars are paying for the overdone fliers he's been sending out.
Unfortunately, folks, Berks County gets screwed all the way around. We're stuck with Gokey or Kessler, O'Pake, Santoni. Part of the draw for Berks County is our wonderful welfare system. We give for free, and our legislators don't have enough ????? to put a stop to it. They welcome with open arms and our open wallets.
Kessler is a flailing democrat flunky. His dopey bio-diesel subsidizing with our taxpayer money is insane. For the last time - you can't grow diesel or automotive fuel! If it was a real alternative why would you need subsidies? If it made sense it would work in the market place on it's own. Kessler likes to make is farmer and tree hugger buddies happy...at our expense!
Right on 3:09. Kessler's in bed with the good old boys network. Definition being those who choose to live off the money that someone else earns. Berks County has a ton of them.
If Kessler likes his Township Supervisor position so much we should reward him by kicking him out of Harrisburg so he can do it full time.
Wonder if Gokey is going to leave his Amity Supervisor position if he wins.
I thought it was against PA statute to hold 2 elected positions.
The people in this area need to pay attention. We're starting to allow elected officials to hold 2 positions and that never is a good thing.
So now we have a situation:
Re-elect an Oley Township supervisor to the State Representative position and allow him to keep being a supervisor,
OR
Elect an Amity Township supervisor to State Representative and wonder if he's going to retain his Amity Township supervisor status.
What a choice!
I'm going with choice #2.
Just a reminder - Gokey came out of nowhere for this primary and election.
Where did he come from and who put him up to this? My read on this is that the legislators want the property tax issue to be gone. They're tired of hearing about it.
He's a builder, developer and his wife is a teacher in the public school system. He's a system feeder and wants to be become more of a system feeder.
How he is going to handle the property tax problem when it will directly affect him and his wife?
He's not working for the taxpayers. He was a plant by the powers that be.
They're trying to send Berks County a message, and the message is, we're not going to do anything about property taxes.
Now what are we as taxpayers going to do about that?
I'm a Republican and he's not getting my vote. Neither is Kessler.
Republican my foot! Thanks, Mr. Kessler, for that Democrat message.
I published that comment at 12:58.
C. Smith
Gokey has stated he will leave his position as Amity Township supervisor when he is elected. You ask who put him up to this? The voters in the Republican primary did. Remember? He won in a three way race. But somewhere you're sure there is a conspiracy. Fortunately I don't think he will need your vote in order to win but I'm sure Kessler thanks you anyway for not voting.
You need to get your facts straight C. Smith. Gokey is NOT a developer. He is a self-employed builder of single family homes. Although he supported development along the 422 corridor, he also supports open space and, contrary to what you say, is an avid supporter of Sam Rohrer's property tax elimination plan.
What you are doing is repeating the Democrat talking points that was on the slick glossy mailer everyone recently received from the Kessler campaign. How does it feel to be a pawn for the Democrats who are desperate to retain Kessler's seat for him and will say anything to keep it?
Actions speak louder than words.
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