New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government - All Comments

re: Milwaukee water is OK, BUT...

Beverly Thomas — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:57:36 GMT

The Lake Michigan water should only go to folks hooked up with sewers. These homes draw water from the wells and sewers push the water via sewer to Lake Michigan. The people not hooked up to sewers should NOT get Lake Michigan Water.

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

The Nice Crowd — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:17:18 GMT

I just think that sometimes we get so focused on cut, cut, cut that inevitably our school system suffers. I am glad to see this year that the levy didn't go up, but inevitably if I have to pay a bit more to maintain the high standards for our district then I am for it.

I completely understand and appreciate the efforts of the NBCRG, however let's be completely honest. I believe the vast majority of their membership have no children that are in the school district and it hasn't been that way for many years. And let's face it when their children were in school there were a lot more opportunities for their kids.

I apologize for the rant, but all I am saying is that at some point increases will be inevitable.

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

Marty Manley — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:09:39 GMT

To The Nice Crowd:

Please don't associate increased spending with a higher quality of education. Just look at Milwaukee Public Schools for an example of how increased spending is not the sole issue.

Instead of caving into increased spending solutions, we should review all ways of bettering the quality of education. Reallocating resources to new technology is a prime example of where we can improve but spend the same or less.

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

Ralph Heun — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:46:58 GMT

Attention Joeblow

I am not allowing anonymous commentators to make unfounded accusations against anyone or me, under a shroud of secrecy to avoid accountability

Therefore I will not publish your second comment.

Please use your real name so we can publish it next time.

If you were at the meeting and it appears that you were, why did you not ask questions or at least have the political courage to vote against the proposals. You will recollect the approval was unanimous.

My blog congratulates the School Board for doing the right thing for the taxpayers and for the children.

I believe the Board's fiscally responsible policies since 2003 have helped bring about the State aid figures. Had the Board been overspending for the past 5 years like many neighboring communities, I doubt that the State would be be sending us more money.

That is not political spin it is just common sense.

Ralph Heun

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

The Nice Crowd — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:04:50 GMT

Not a complaint on my end, just indicating that without the windfall the levy would have gone up for sure. Also, to keep our schools up to par and keep New Berlin an elite city we are going to face tax increases in the future. The hope is that spending priorities are kept in check and the areas that need the money get it.

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

Marty Manley — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:14:46 GMT

The original increase requested by the Board was smaller than the additional $3 million in state funding. That being said, the Board could have actually REDUCED the tax levy and had enough money to meet the original request.

This is on top of the recent statements from Dr. Kreutzer that there will be additional increases necessary, even after the one time facility repair costs in this budget.

There should be no congratulations offered now, just increased Board scrutiny as the Administration pressures for future increases even with the additional aid.

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

john fillar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:44:35 GMT

The Board got an unexpected $3 million dollar windfall from the state. They could have simply spent it. Instead they gave it back to the taxpayers. What's wrong with that ?

To those of you who complained about this - please use your real name.

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

geno53151 — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:50:23 GMT

I think I recall where the city of New Berlin increased their tax

rate when Governor Doyle allowed the levy to be increased. I am

happy to see the school board lowering their proposed tax increase

to 1% rather than sticking it to the tax payers.

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

The Nice Crowd — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:05:23 GMT

The board got lucky that we received three million in state aid we weren't expecting.

However to keep our standards up to par and to keep our facilities intact, we are going to face tax increases. We have to be realistic and if the board has to raise the levy, then that is how it has to be. Look at the discrepancy now between our high schools. That needs to be addressed or we need to go with one high school at New Berlin West

re: Congrats to the New Berlin School Board

JoeBlow — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:52:07 GMT

This posting is really disingenuous - it infers that the school board was knowingly responsible for the lower levy when in fact they were not. Don't take my word for it, read about it here: www.newberlinnow.com/watch

re: NBCRG advances proposal to save millions of tax dollars

Paul Gallagher — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:04:05 GMT

This city already has a lot of ball fields. Unless the city can demonstrate that the revenues from the fields pay the majority of the $3.2 million, I can't support it. We have far more dire issues in this city to spend millions on, such as maintaining the parks we already have, and road rebuilding. At this time, these new facilities are probably a luxury we can't afford.

re: NBCRG advances proposal to save millions of tax dollars

geno53151 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:36:07 GMT

I am sure there are thousands of New Berlin citizens who are also

finding it difficult to pay high gas and food prices and do not want

to, or cannot afford more taxes.

re: NBCRG advances proposal to save millions of tax dollars

Perceptive — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:14:36 GMT

Wouldn't this proposed alternative arrangement also cost taxpayers more money? The softball fields at the schools are not maintained at this time and do not have restroom facilities available.

What about the high school teams that use West and Eisenhower for practices and games of their own? Would this plan really be feesible or an inconvience to an already strapped School District?

As a mother of three children who all play ball in New Berlin, along with literally hundreds of others from public and non-public schools across the community, I believe this issue should be looked at logically and rationally, before alarming community members.

Currently, my children's teams vie for practice time on the fields at Elmwood, Poplar Creek and Orchard Lane (where there are no restrooms for them during their 2 hour practices - even the 5 year olds) these fields are not maintained, full of weeds and not well drained.

My children play games almost every night of the week from May until July at Malone Park (behind City Hall), Pro-Health Park and Calhoun Park. I commend my children's league for their creative and efficient uses of our community resources already.

However, my pocketbook stings from the gas I am burning daily circumventing New Berlin in my mini-van dropping one at a practice, one at a game, etc.

I strongly believe that this issue is more than a pork-barrel frivolity and should be weighed carefully.

Thank you.

re: Questions for Mayor and New Berlin Common Council

geno53151 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:25:06 GMT

If we want to solve the Budget problems with Calhoun road (etc) why

not sell the New Berlin Golf Course. The land could be develoved and expand our tax base. I am a resident of New Berlin for 27 years and have never used the course. I am sure 90% or more of New Berlin citizens would say the same.

re: A Important Time to remember all our veterans, May 26

MP SOLDIER — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:15:49 GMT

As a veteran, I make an effort to attend every year. I can only ask that you do the same to support those who have given their lives for you.

This is a really great event that many people put a lot of time and effort into making it happen year after year. Their efforts have been shown by the increasing numbers of attendees each year.

Again, I ask for your attendance at this event; please take advantage of the holiday and celebrate it as it was meant to be celebrated.

Respectfully,

SGT J. AMENT

re: NBCRG congratulates Election Winners

Dave Maxey — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:56:37 GMT

Dear Fellow Residents of New Berlin:

I would like to thank you for electing me to represent you and your children on the New Berlin School Board. I met some of you during the campaign, and hope to see and meet many of you at the school board meetings.

I promise to do my best to make decisions regarding our schools with your children and tax dollars in mind. After all my children and my taxes are in our schools also.

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to help shape your children’s lives.

Dave Maxey

School Board Member Elect

re: NBCRG congratulates Election Winners

Matt Weiss — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:51:30 GMT

A big thank you to NBCRG for helping spread the word about these quality candidates. It's difficult for ordinary people to get news about candidates for local public office. That's why we're lucky to have NBCRG to provide their recommendations.

Waukesha Carnival time! « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative

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re: NBCRG April 1, Ballot recommendations!

Mark Musselman — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:16:11 GMT

The Supreme Court race reveals the candidates’ guiding principles.

A political ad for Justice Louis Butler incorrectly states that Judge Michael Gableman’s court decisions were overturned 1/3rd of the time. The Wisconsin Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee stated that the ad is misleading. But Butler says in another commercial it’s about doing what is “right”. Justice Butler’s ad exemplifies his distorted view of “right”; and therein exposes his guiding principle – his personal power.

Judge Gableman states that his guiding principle in legal rulings will be “the simple words of the law”. Despite Butler’s refusal to likewise limit himself, Gableman’s humility before the law is required of Supreme Court justices according to the constitutional separation-of-powers. That limit is what we must demand of every Supreme Court justice.

Mark Musselman

re: NBCRG April 1, Ballot recommendations!

Ralph Heun — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:11:17 GMT

The matter of the Appeals court race between Lisa Neubauer ans Bill Gleisner was not on our March Agenda so we as a group did not take any position on the matter.

However as a private citizen I can state my preference which is Bill Gleisner.

Although the court rqace is not a partisan issue. it has been turned into that because Governor Doyle appointed Lisa Neubauer as the judge in spite of her political activism and financial backing for the Democratic party. She hardly is in a position to render a unbiased decision in any stand that the Democratic Party has a vested interest in. Union support that she has received will only be used for pushing a party agenda