Galante calls Eagan a "Rha Rha"                                                        By Dennis Galante 10\11\2007 The need to understand. Information and transparency a search for the truth.Kathy Eagan, another one of Superintendent Micheal Ritacco and the School Board’s “rha rha” show propaganda puppets states the Toms River Regional School has presented its new budget with “a zero percent tax increase” Is this true? Mrs. Egan says “it is a no brainer”. Is this a zero percent tax increase or just some undecipherable fancy accounting method to defer taxation or a representation to their benefit? How convenient in an election year with much question and controversy surrounding our Toms River Regional School system. The political use by the Tom Baxter support team of this zero percent tax increase? Give us a break! Propaganda that Tom Baxter may some how be responsible for?In fact, a possible tax increase was offset by 2.1 million in state aid. This could have been used to decrease taxes. The Southern Regional School District used this same type state aid to lower their taxes. As I read a very complex “taxpayer unfriendly” School Budget draft, you will find the Local Tax Levy of the 06-07 budget had a levy $104,580,126. This year 07-08, budget yet to be approved by the voters on April 17th, contains an anticipated tax levy of $107,722,170. This is an increase $3,142,044! That’s not an increase to the taxpayers? If you add the 2.1 million in state aid you come up with a 5.2 million increase. That is 3.7% of the 07-08 $196 million budget. Still no increase in spending or taxation? Can the $350 thousand increases in spending in this year’s budget also be added into these mathematics? Please don’t tell me about “tax rates” the bottom line is what comes out of our wallets this year or next! This is the way I see it and I hope this is correct. Possibly I could have more information in answered questions if it were not for the disruptive school board meetings where certain board members and Ritacco would rather throw insults at taxpayers and citizens who ask these type questions. I think I will vote NO for this budget as it deservers a second look. I will also vote for Hank Eisenhower for a more accountable and fresh look at our budget and school system as Board President Baxter needs to show respect for those taxpayers he may or not be elected to serve.Oh! And what happened to all the safety and repair and educational needs presented in the $13.4 million December 12th defeated referendum? Especially when I see no money budgeted in the “Capital Outlay’ page of this new budget. As Kathy Eagan states what agenda us “malcontents” have I will answer that it is a search by concerned citizens for answers and respect by those officials, paid for by tax dollars, who are elected to serve! Your continued statement that this “group” circulates “misinformation” is a feeble attempt to discredit these individuals and I challenge you to present this in writing or publicly as I notice that in your multitude of defensive writings you have never done so. It is only you and the Ritacco “rha rha” support team that personally attacks good citizens. Mrs. Eagan so what’s your agenda?