oldslabsides wrote: 
Yeah, but it really seems more like he had no accountant looking after things for him. Seems like a lot of that stuff would have been caught by a competent financial manager. Like the rental income from a resort unit, you know? I'm not saying the guy's not guilty, the evidence is overwhelming, but some of it seems less like corruption and more like, well, stupidity. Not an excuse, I know: this schmuck was chair of the Ways and Means Committee, not some rube from the sticks who had no idea what you're supposed to pay taxes on.

Another case of 'Entrenched Entitlement'...

 buzz wrote: 
Those will probably come later.

 oldslabsides wrote: 


Where are the criminal charges for tax evasion?

He must be a corrupt old man indeed for the most corrupt institution in the country to pronounce him so.

 Proclivities wrote: 
My mom used to tell me stories of how, when she was a kid growing up in Jersey City, she was paid to stuff the ballot boxes during the elections.

 Southern_Boy wrote: 
Yes, it always seemed that NJ had a bigger state-wide problem than the other states in that area.  There were single cities like Providence and Philadelphia which have had long-time reputations, but generally not whole states.  I guess it wouldn't have been a good idea to open that film in Jersey City.

 Proclivities wrote: 
They even made a movie. HA! Although its quite interesting that the movie debuted in a New York City theater.

 Southern_Boy wrote: 
I agree that for NJ and many other states, there definitely needs to be some control - as their Governor is apparently attempting to do. I definitely understand the cynicism as well - especially for residents of The Garden State. I figured you and Schlabby were just poking fun really - it's just that that sort of talk that can create a brouhaha sometimes.  No problem.  Cheers. 

 Proclivities wrote: 
When the state is nearing bankruptcy and there are superintendents of schools with no schools to which they administer, coupled with the 6 figure assistant's salaries (not to mention benefit packages) there needs to be some controls put in place. Its obvious by some of the contracts that the school districts don't have the self control. Its far too easy to pay out big dollars for questionable ability, and then run to the residents for a tax increase. The supt. of Keansburg retired about two years ago with a severance package that totaled $740,000 in cash plus an annual pension payment of $120,000. And this type of deal is not that unusual. I don't fault her, by the way. But the person(s) responsible for agreeing to that contract should be, well, lets just say, held accountable.

Reasons for cynicism see here and here . I can add more but I"m sure you would get bored (or apathetic as are many New Jerseyans).

And as for the gangster reference, its something New Jersey has been living with for decades, and I don't think Schlabby (although I can't speak for him) was accusing so much as poking fun.

 Southern_Boy wrote: 
The average salary for a superintendent in New Jersey is $154,409, about $9,000 above the national average but below that of other states in the region, according a 2008 report commissioned by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA).

Yes it does seem like an exorbitant wage, but is there anyone here with advanced degrees in education and psychology and twenty or thirty years of educational experience who wants to take on running a school district with 6500 students? 
There is presently a bill in NJ which would limit the superintendents' pay by student population and base raises upon academic performance.  The governor was apparently not amused that there are many supers with a higher wage than his and seeks to cap their pay at the same rate as his. 
It's often not accurate to compare the wages of the northeastern US (especially the NYC Metro area) to other parts of the country either - while the wages are generally higher, the cost of living is dramatically higher than most other areas.  There happens to be a substantial population of people of Italian descent in that part of the country as well; the implication that they are all corrupt or gangsters is not really appropriate and would create an uproar if such a suggestion were made about any other ethnic group.

 oldslabsides wrote: 
And each of them has a 6 figure assistant super. There are a lot of names ending in vowels

 oldslabsides wrote:
 
Better zip it there, schlabs, unless you LIKE wearing concrete footgear...

 Southern_Boy wrote: 

And they're all mafioso, right?

 oldslabsides wrote: 
All New Jersey Superintendents are making 6 figure incomes, not including benefits. Each town has a school super (making 6 figures) even if they have no schools in the town. How f'd up is that? There are 614 OPERATING school districts in NJ and 13 non-operating districts - each with a 6 figure superintendent.

 mzpro5 wrote: 

It's very difficult because of the distances involved.  Depopulation has been going on out there for a couple of decades, it's getting more and more empty.

 oldslabsides wrote: 
Oh didn't think of that.  Have they considered consolidation or are the districts just too far apart?

 mzpro5 wrote: 

Podunk western Oklahoma towns.  Population of maybe 500.  The western third of this state is very nearly empty, with tiny towns spread over a vast area.  It would seem the superintendent of schools is probably the wealthiest member of the community.

 oldslabsides wrote: 
I'm sorry but where do you live that a school district would only have 70-90 students.  That's less than most schools much less a school district.

School superintendents in this state...

one supervises a district with 70 students and is payed a salary of $93k

another with a district of 90 students makes $90k

...and we wonder why the schools are always scraping by.  but wait - the state lottery was supposed to provide all the funding our schools would ever need!  yeah, right.

 Mugro wrote: 
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Africa
UK
Googlr samples. I know there's a lot of bunk in there, but why do the humans slabby loves so much take this ?

Lets give the folks more money.