Good idea. Hopefully the comments, complaints, suggestions etc. will be followed up on.Not everyone can be satisfied but at least if you are truly willing to be open minded and give the people of this town a voice it can be a good thing.Mr. Amato I plead with you to be for everyone not just the republicans or seniors in this town. We all deserve a voice and equal attention. Yes seniors have special needs but so do others. For years this town has felt like the seniors had more of a voice and it created an "us against them" atmosphere.It would be nice if we could have a town that we work together and respect each other. Maybe we can understand each others needs better that way and make some real progress that benefits everyone fairly. We need to get boards (school , township etc.) across the board that act more like adults and get back to business instead of trying to be greedy and get everything for what their personal agenda is and damn everyone else.Lets all start with a fresh slate and get this town in shape. Yes some people will have to sacrifice and others will have to bend. That's the only way to accomplish what is needed.

So true Hearme. Unfortunately the seniors are NOT from around here. Therefore they are immune and insensitive to the residents and lifestyle that's here already. They come down from the north and expect the world to give them everything, because they spent all their years and money up north. Nice. Well, we didn't get your taxes, we didn't get your spendable income and other business all those working years. We get your "I've done my part, now you owe me" attitude. Along with the I'm on a fixed income comment. So, we somehow have to find a way to make them happy. With all the seniors in Berkeley, there ought to be more involvement in the schools with them volunteering etc. Some should have some desire to give to their community. But, you don't see it because these aren't their schools or their home towns. They are very very separated from Bayville and feel they are really Toms River which they are more accessible to. They simply are very disconnected with Berkeley as their home. It's not a good thing.

But, there's some hope. They won't be voting on the school budget any more and shooting it down! Finally. Wayyyy too many years the pathetic NO vote prevailed on the school systems in Berkeley. And, the NONvoting parents are as much to blame. Maybe finally, the schools can breath a bit and do what they need to.....

This is exactly what I mean about the Us against them mentality. It has to stop. No matter the reason we have to go forward and change the mentality to a better "What can we do it make this town better as a whole!" I can repeat and even agree with some of the who's to blame stuff but what would be the point? We have said and heard it all before. There is plenty of blame to go around.We all have limits as to what we can afford and no one likes to pay more than they have to or think they can afford. Trust me I know the feeling. The facts are what they are. All of our infrastructure needs to be paid for somehow. That includes our roads, schools, lights (Which they have and need more of in the senior communities) , fire equipment, police, etc...It is difficult to ask the seniors to be more involved with a school system that has spent at least 25 years that I know of blaming them for everything. Bottom line is if we improve the attitude maybe it will work both ways. The kids will volunteer more with seniors and the seniors would volunteer at the school more. We have to start somewhere so changing the attitude is where it has to be. I don't know of anyone that is not worried about money these days. Even if you have 3 times what Doris said so it's $2,400 a month. You figure an average mortgage for a younger family and the fact that you have a few kids these days and maybe college to pay for it works out to be less than the person getting $800 a month. SO please stop saying that.

LOWER THE PROPERTY TAXES !

OMG! I swear it's like some people have a key on their key board that just puts the same thing over and over and over again......
WE ALL GET IT, YOU WANT LOWER PROPERTY TAXES!! Here's a shocker everyone would love lower taxes in general but that doesn't mean we can get them. WE have to fund things that are considered a necessity and schools, roads etc. are . If they didn't fix those things they would be come dangerous and then you would scream FIX THE ROADS OR SCHOOLS!

DUH!!! I hate that people are so ignorant and have the "Give me what I want and screw everyone else" attitude. It's is infuriating and the reason our government hasn't been getting anything done. Stop being so damn selfish and look at the whole picture.

well if everyone would love lower property taxes as you say THEN LOWER THE PROPERTY TAXES !!!
government must be cut 50% at all levels and health benefits must be paid by each employee themselves.
of course if this isnt done , it will collapse on its own and when it all finally collapses , i will be prepared but i am quite sure hearme will be lost
NJ HOUSES ARE THE BIGGEST SCAM . EVERYONE MADE MONEY ON THEM BEING OVERPRICED BUT ITS OVER AND THE AMERICAN DREAM IS A DREAM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE ASLEEP TO BELIEVE IT

OK It is time to get real. I am going to break it down for some people that just don't get the realities. Starting with the fixed income situation.Most people get a set paycheck therefore are also on a fixed income. As a senior you are getting the following things that younger people don't get. The PTR .This is a rebate so you don't pay more in property taxes than you did in the year you applied for this going forward. So if you get a 1985 freeze you are still paying that amount now. Although the economy has made a slight TEMPORARY change so you are locked into last years rebate amount for this year.That's above the homestead rebate. You also get a discount of $250 off your local taxes. As well as having a lower tax rate if you live in a senior community. Discounts at most stores when you go shopping, cable, phone, electric, natural gas, transportation, insurance, most every form of entertainment, & restaurants.Discounted or free home repairs. You can get your taxes done for free and there are organizations that will even mow your lawn or do other household chores for very cheep or free.

If someone took home $4,000 a month, with 2 kids in college and another headed that way ,as well as feeding & clothing & paying a mortgage that most seniors don't have, as well as higher auto insurance even though no one has a ticket or accident it's based on age alone, as well as health insurance and out of pocket medical, & dental. Who has it harder?

This was taken off of 2009 numbers for Ocean county so it is low but this is self explanatory:
Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $2,071
Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $685
(This doesn't include anything except mortgage and taxes before any discounts!)

My point wasn't to attack the seniors. It was to point out that we all have our points & need some relief. It's not like anyone wants the seniors to stop getting those discounts but we want the seniors to realize that we don't have a money tree either & we still have needs. Yes you need First Responders close to you. You have more people with health issues in the senior community. Yes you need better lighting for seniors. Facts are that it helps to create a safer environment for you & night vision is an issue for many seniors. BUT we need our schools & things for our children as well. We need better roads over on the other side of this town as well. We need proper safe fire equipment & more police & equipment for all our first reponders that by the way, many of them so graciously volunteer their time. Stop the THEM & US crap understand all the needs of the town.Most would rather stand behind closed doors in their prospective parts of town and yell "I don't care what they need. Let them pay for it. I just want what I need!" None of us will get everything they need or want but maybe we can get creative & come up with ways to get more than we have now.

Well said Hearme. If I may point out something else, the Social Security benefit that our Seniors currently receive, is funded by todays current work force. Ms. Cauda, your statement that
" Not all seniors get big bucks in the SS check. Yes, they vote the budget down because they are deathly afraid that they will lose their home. Then, there's the property taxes, WHICH ALL SENIORS PAY, even though they have no children in school. We pay for YOUR police, fire, township employees and keep many businesses in business. In fact, you wouldn't have half the stores in Berkeley and Toms River without the seniors. So, stop blaming us with the PARENTS don't bother to get out and vote."
I agree, a lot of parents do not get out and vote, and that is in large part why the budget has failed, however, given your line of logic, perhaps we should suggest not paying into social security? Also, may we suggest that you hire a private security guard, EMT, disposal company, and shuttle? The point is, WE pay for each other.
And WE would prefer to be considered a COMMUNITY who contributes, understands, and supports each other rather then being someone like YOU whose most important word is ME. That continues to perpetuate the US vs. THEM mentality.