Education task force would help JC do better
Jersey City is a tremendous city with many strengths, including the diversity of its residents; good, talented and committed teachers; and the opportunity to foster partnerships between the business community, Hudson County Community College, public institutions such as the Jersey City Free Public Library, and the Jersey City Public Schools.
The purpose of my previous op-ed (“Jersey City needs task force to fix dysfunctional BOE, school district,” April 10), in which I advocated for the creation of a joint task force, was to initiate the dialogue and recognize that there is an opportunity, always an opportunity, to do better. Some of the observations which have been made in response to my op-ed merit greater recognition and consideration, particularly the importance of adjusting the state-aid formula to recognize the socioeconomic background of our students.
Fully cognizant of the challenges before many of our students, I am profoundly grateful for those teachers who make a commitment to teach. We must value the tireless efforts of our teachers, who provide them with the basis to move onto further education or enter the workforce. We must ensure that our teachers have the necessary resources to effectively do their jobs.
The statistics I selected were taken from the New Jersey Department of Education website. While one can question the utility of those statistics, nonetheless, they are the existent statistics.
The principal question, the answer to which we would all agree, is: “Can we do better?” I think the universal answer is yes.
The task force is a structure, a framework, for the city, school district, and Board of Education to work cooperatively to grapple with systemic challenges. The task force is a first step to identify those areas that need improvement, jointly implement necessary changes, and adopt “best practices.”
Lastly, I am grateful for those individuals who disagree with me while setting forth pragmatic recommendations for improving classroom instruction and student performance. Bluntly, the education of our children is something to which many of us are wholly committed; the exchange moves us forward in grappling with challenges and solutions of merit.
Jim McGreevey, Jersey City, former governor and candidate for mayor in 2025
Payroll tax for schools is enforceable
I need to correct some statements proffered by the Republican candidate for Surrogate in Hudson County relative to my suggestions on how to improve collection of the Jersey City payroll tax as it relates to construction work (”O’Dea’s payroll tax idea unwise,” April 12).
First, let me be clear, I want all the taxes collected because that’s the law. I support the suggestions of Councilman Solomon on the business side and hope he gets the city to implement them. It is important to note that the only reason there is a local payroll tax to support the schools is because the state of New Jersey in making changes to its school funding formula imposed draconian cuts to Jersey City that were political and punitive. Should Paterson with a population 40% less than Jersey City’s get 400% more in state school aid? Should Union City with a population 20% the size of Jersey City’s get nearly twice as much in state school aid?
Suggesting simple changes like recognizing when you get a permit that you have an obligation to abide by the law and estimate what you anticipate you will pay should not have a chilling effect on construction (in fact, even if a document is signed at the time a permit is issued that requires the contractor to just acknowledge the payroll tax law would suffice). Verifying that you made payroll tax payments, as required by law before you get your final certificate of occupancy should be standard policy. When the contractor goes to buy lumber or paint, they have to pay sales tax on those items. The workers who do the construction pay taxes on the money they earn working there and the employer pays FICA, state disability and unemployment insurance as the law requires.
Second, the tax is enforceable. Newark has collected a payroll tax for over 50 years! They seem to have figured out how to collect it. Why? Because the city gets to keep all that it collects. Figuring out how to reimburse the city for costs related to collecting it should be easy to do if the city and board of ed stop finger pointing on the issue of property taxes and come together — in fact, by coming together we can stand together to correct the punitive state school aid formula.
The assertion that my close relationship to the Jersey City Education Association is a conflict is absurd. If we don’t collect the payroll taxes, or change the formula, the added burden will fall onto the small homeowners and renters in Jersey City as a property tax increase.
In closing, I appreciate a good dialogue on issues like the payroll tax, and although we may not always agree I hope we can all come together on the issue of school aid and repeal the “punitive” formula adopted in 2018. If we can get that done and get Jersey City its fair share, maybe we won’t need the payroll tax anymore?
Bill O’Dea, Jersey City, Hudson County Commissioner and candidate for mayor in 2025
