Are we sure that the $189 for Bancroft is what is forcing people out and not the 2% payroll tax hike Obama and the Democrats gave us. 2% of 10k is $200. Is anyone calling Obama and complaining?

Or could it be the rising gas, food or personal healthcare costs or is it the increase in taxes needed to pay for union salaries, benefits and pensions?

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s latest report on employer-provided insurance, the average family premium climbed 4.5 percent this year. That’s more than twice the current inflation rate — and comes on top of a 9.5-percent increase last year. In other words, since Obamacare was enacted, family premiums have climbed nearly $2,000.

For those who work at small businesses, the news is even worse. Family premiums shot up more than $1,100 this year alone — an 8-percent increase.

These cost hikes are just the beginning.

Are we really certain we can pin the exodus from the $189 on Bancroft or a combination of factors?

My personal threshold is $247.50 and then I am out.

"The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation." Vladimir Ilyich Lenin I know that to some folks in town, ever-increasing taxes and overall cost of living are not a concern.....but where and when does it stop? Your points are well taken, Joe T., but remember, a couple of our elected officials commented "if people can't afford to live here....then move." This from a town that continuously boasts of inclusiveness and lack of bias....baloney!

Joe, It's a combination of all those things. The concerns you cited are the very reasons why we shouldn't purchase Bancroft. In an unstable economy, who knows where we're headed. Even people who can afford these kind of costs with relative ease might even be in a different situation somewhere down the line.
Although I applaud the BOE on the job they do with Haddonfield's excellent educational needs, I don't have the same confidence when it comes to the maintenance and upkeep of the properties. That's why I worry about the costs the turf fields could incur, especially when set amid a wooded area like Hopkin's Pond.
I'm also concerned the eventual cost of the 2 turf fields on the high school property will push the tax bill closer closer to that 247.50. People like you and other residents shouldn't have to worry about that. We also have to find ways to address all the excellent points you talk about. It's like a runaway train.
Anyway, that's how I feel about things.

Well put BK. Take a run around Crows Woods sometime and see how we maintain the space that we own now. Same for the public works yard. What is in all of those 40 foot containers? Why is the $2 million garage half empty? I would feel much better giving this money to a private entity who had a vested interest in seeing that the money was spent wisely. I don't get the feeling that the public sector has that same vested interest.

The reason I'm voting NO is because since I've moved into this town I’ve voted YES for the school board’s needs, over and over again. This seemingly “small amount of money” and incurred a tax bill that has increased 45% over the past 8 years. I don’t know about you, but my salary has not kept up with Haddonfield inflation. It never seems like enough for this town.
The other problem is that every organization and issues raises a need for more and more money. And every time the need for money is ALWAYS THREATENING my child’s EDUCATION. Enough is enough. Stop threatening me.
The last issue, for now, is that the cost is only $200 now, present day, to buy the property. However, when it comes time to install the turf fields and the added maintenance, our tax bill will soar another $150. Then will come the vote for a school extension, there goes another $300. Folks, by that time, your tax bill be another $650 plus inflation, I predict this $200 is going to really cost you over $3,000 in the next 10-15 years. And remember this is only for the Bancroft property, there will be other needs for increasing taxes like existing healthcare, pensions, etc.
Let a builder purchase the property, at a lower purchase price, and build the 10 low income housing units that are necessary.

J....I concur with your insightful, well-written comments, and agree that at the mention of "children" or "education," we are expected to blindly follow the herd, without using fact, logic and common sense to evaluate the benefit of additional financial commitment. The fact that the BOE and Boro have been vague, at best, about what the real development plans (and costs) will be should be of concern to everyone. I just don't understand the "we must buy it now and we'll worry about development plans later" argument. It makes no sense to me. I'd never give the bank a down payment, sign the agreement of sale and the mortgage commitment forms....without knowing what the house actually costs!.

No thinking person would, yet that is basically what we are being asked to do regarding Bancroft. Haddonfield can and should be a town that provides the best quality of living for everyone....education is critically important to be sure, but so is maintaining an affordable community for all members of the socio-economic stratum. By the way, there is a great letter in today's Courier Post editorial page. Among other things, the writer says "Voting "no" for Bancroft means voting "yes" for education." Check it out.

Interesting to see Lenin cited in an earlier comment. I hope we are not on track for the traditional "pinko commie" comments next. -- But seriously, this really is a one-time opportunity. All the speculation about alternative values of the property and future options for renegotiation with Bancroft are all just that -- speculation. What we know is that the site is now for sale. We know it is going to cost us an average of about $200 more a year in taxes to pay for it. To me, the question is pretty simple: Is it worth $200 a year to you to have the insurance that the land will be available over the long-term for future community use, or isn't it? I favor the option for the long-term, and I am planning to vote YES. The folks who don't are planning to vote NO. The rest is politics. And when it comes to politics, I remember what Will Rogers used to say: "Remember folks, it's all applesauce."

Bill, to answer your question “NO”.
Senator Smith from N.J. would like to increase everyone's water tax "only" $32/year for open space. The Bancroft increase is "only" $189/year (we know it’s going to be significantly more) on top of the yearly property tax increase. Social security tax increased "only” 2%, income tax is increasing "only" 3% - 5%, long term capital gains tax is increasing "only" 5% - 10%, the estate tax is increasing "only" 20% w/ 4 million decreases in exemption. This names a few of the "only" increases currently taking effect. These increases don’t including fuel, utilities, food & insurance increases. Salaries aren’t increasing at the rate of all of these “only” increases. Haddonfield is overpaying for property that won’t better the quality of education. Buildings & turf fields don’t make a quality education; dedicated teachers who have a passion for educating, parents who know the value of education & instill this value in their children, and students who have a strong support system that engrains them w/the importance of education & through the enthusiasm of the educators & parents develop a lifelong love of learning. That is the formula for a good education, not turf fields.
It’s disgraceful how this town will displace its citizens for an overpriced piece of property. Citizens who have contributed to this town & will now be forced to move because they can no longer afford to stay. It is a sad, sad commentary.

For anyone who wants to buy my house, it's a chance of a lifetime. It's the best opportunity to get in on a great deal. It's too good to pass up. You'll never find a better place on the market again. It's for the future of my kids. It will help preserve and conserve my wallet. Come on folks, make me an offer.

Can we please stop saying that "Bancroft is a willing seller" or as Bill just said "What we know is that the site is now for sale". My house is worth $400,000 and is currently not for sale. If you offered me $800,000 for it, my house is now for sale and is SOLD.

Notice most of the green signs in town are on the lawns with houses that are - shall we say - bigger than necessary. Sort of like the price tag on this boondoggle.

BTW - Great comment Jack S.

"Common sense ain't common." Will Rogers Buying an overpriced parcel of land, with no definite development plans and projected costs... just because it is available just makes no sense to me....no matter how I analyze it. The purchase price is just the down payment on this debacle....everything else is an unknown. Speaking of unknowns, I find it interesting that some folks affiliated with GSEG (including two who don't even live in Haddonfield any more) have been extremely vocal and visible about this purchase....call me cynical, but I can't help but wonder if approval of this bond and future development of an educational campus by the BOE would eventually benefit them....just a thought.

Yes, since someone brought up Will Rogers: "The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets."

(Or in this case, the BOE)

Brilliant!!!! Thanks for the smile.

As a senior citizen who has lived in town for many years, I would enjoy living in this town and my home for the coming years. However, now that I am on a limited income and facing increasing costs from rising energy, food, insurance etc., I don't need to be faced with additional costs that will arrive from the Bancroft purchase. I do notice many green signs around town ... on the lawns on the castles on Kings Highway, the homes along Chews Landing Rd., and the residences on Upland Way to name a few ... Obviously, through hard work and good fortune, the people living in these areas will have no problem handling the burdens that the Bancroft purchase will create ... and I do compliment them ... However, I do believe that a majority of towns people are faced with mounting bills and the purchase will place a greater hardship on them ... in a perfect world, the purchase would be a good idea ... unfortunately, we are not living in a perfect world ...

Eric, the tax freeze qualification ceiling was $80k two years ago. Then it was lowered to $70k last year. And there's talk in Trenton that it will be lowered further, post-Sandy. As the tax freeze qualification ceiling falls, more Haddonfield seniors are exposed to higher property taxes. Needless to say, $70k pre-tax is not a lot to live in in NJ, but if you're a senior making more than that then you're NOT protected from property tax increases.

Where do I assume every senior in NJ makes more that $70K??? The fact is that a senior making $70k before taxes living in Haddonfield would not qualify for a tax freeze. That level of income is hardly a king's ransom, especially if you are supporting a spouse, and especially for seniors facing limited COLAs in recent years. You provide zero evidence that an appreciable number of Haddonfield seniors in Haddonfield would qualify based on income. Yet you admonish others for allegedly not knowing about the freeze.

Eric, Just about everyone in the town of Haddonfield works hard, earns every penny and provides a better life for their children. They also have something called common sense. They know school bonds aren't free to anyone, which is why they must be vital to the education of their children. An overpriced referendum benefiting Bancroft, who is funding One Haddonfield rings the alarm bells for people all over town. It seems there are some people who keep on underestimating that.
If you want to portray Haddonfield United as invasive force intent on misleading people it's up to you. Haddonfield United is just a name. We all work hard for each other, care about the lives of our fellow residents and the direction of the town we love. I'm proud to know so many people who have become my friends.

Here are the 2012 Presidential Election Results showing Obama winning Haddonfield. It also shows Haddonfield voters overwheliming votes YES to authorize the state to borrow money to pay for college capital investments which presumably don't benefit Haddonfield residents especially those who are struggling.

We even elected the same old tax and spend Freeholders who take 25% of our tax dollars and for what??

http://www.haddonfieldnj.org/pdf/General-Election-Results-11-06-2012-Preliminary.pdf

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/nj_voters_say_yes_to_both_high.html

Why do we think Obama won given he has raised our taxes, increased our healthcare costs, gas & food prices are higher under him, we have more debt we cannot afford - now $16.4 Trillion and just this month he raised taxes on everyone.

How can people talk about the costs forcing people out when they just elected someone who is bankrupting us all and they voted to borrow $750 million dollars in NJ which is also broke. Do you not think higher taxes will pay for this??? Where is that money coming from?

I wish there was this much passion to stop these things.

Vote no but always vote NO!!!

Mr. Reynolds: I just read that you referred to me as a "pinko-commie"! You obviously don't know me, but ask anyone who does (including several individuals in your group) and they will attest that I am a proud un-hyphenated American...if you cut me, I bleed Red, White and Blue. Criticize my opinion on Bancroft...but don't dare question my patriotism.

Eric, It's nice that you call your fellow residents invasive because they happen to disagree with your point of view. We all state the facts as we see them. Other people might not agree with you but so what? Welcome to the world. I respect your right to your opinion and that's what matters. If you don't like what you see on the Haddonfield United page then don't read it. I don't care for One Haddonfield's facts but they have every right to make their case as they see fit.

By the way, you posted on the Haddonfield United site often and never once talked about your tax rebate program. You could have debated your issue respectfully but you chose to attack people's motivations instead. I've talked often with Mr. Weinstein, the Mayor and Superintendent Perry and we respect each others point of view. It shouldn't be so hard for you to do the same thing.

Joe T....great post from yesterday morning...I ask myself the same questions and can only conclude that most folks vote based on emotion and ideology...not fact and logic. The President is a rock star, and that's enough for some, I guess. Plus, remember, this is New Jersey (and Camden County, no less) so the Democrats have held Court for ages and I don't see that ending anytime soon....too many people on the dole, as my Dad used to say. I feel that we are screwed by the Fed and State and that the only control we might have over out of control government spending is on a local level...(.not just taxes, but we can work on that after January 22.) Let's hope that people start THINKING, if they don't and soon, we're in for a big mess!

Thank you Maryann. There are too many low information voters out there with their hands out. While we have the luxury as a community to vote on capital spending and important issues, the Federal Gov borrows $3-4 billion a day just to operate. No one borrows money to run operations. The worst part is with $16.5 T of debt and growing, it will never ever be paid back. It will continue to grow causing even higher borrowing costs. In fact, in Obama's own budget projections, interest costs grow from $300B to $915B in the next few years. Imagine spending an additional $615 BILLION just to pay interest on debts for expenses you couldn't afford. Hurricane Sandy at $60B will cost $1.2B a year forever in interest costs since it will never be paid back.

A country that needs to increase its borrowing limit ie credit limit to pay interest on money it already borrowed is already in default only the lender in this case is the same as the borrower and lets it happen. Try that with a bank or Visa.

After Bancroft, let's take our passions to the people and fix government once and for all so our children and grandchildren even have a future.

Why are we stopping with Bancroft? Shouldn't we purchase all the houses on Sylvan Lake while we're at it? I think we may need that land someday for future development for educational needs.

I wish folks would stop using the $189/yr tax increase number, it's a 2.7% increase in your school taxes. The BoE likes the $189 number as it downplays the real cost. Remember, this is above and beyond to likely 2% increase we'll see in the next budget. Further, once this increase is worked into the budget, it's part of the base so we will pay an additional 2% per year on top of that.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, for Bancroft to profit from Haddonfield's taxpayers.

As for Mike's comment about Sylvan Lake, we could pay those folks double their market value (I'm sure they would sell in a heartbeat) gain the land for an expansion, and spend a lot less than $12.5M. Sounds like a much better deal.