It’s insanity. My brother makes over $100 an hour directing traffic because it’s overtime.

It’s absolutely mob protection money.

This is why I live in a town with no police department (we contract NJ state police). We also don’t have a high school, we contract that too. And the town doesn’t have a sewer or water department. So developers have a massive uphill battle to build anything more than single family homes.

Yes, the market is rough depending upon the towns you are looking in. If it's your first time buying, be sure to look into the first time home buyer's grant! Can save you on closing costs.

I know so many young adults (late 20s even early 30s) living with their parents in Bergen county. I grew up in ocean county and it always seemed like it was frowned upon. But up here it’s really difficult to survive without first living with your parents and saving

The next time you complain about your property tax bill, think about this list.

I'd like to see that happen too.

NJ bars "unconscionable" rent hikes, although the term isn't really defined. There was a recent court decision that would give you a good argument to make with your landlord, although another court would not be obligated to do the same thing: https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-opinions/2023/candelandvnunez.pdf

And those are jobs paid for by non-tax dollars. Work a road crew? Money is coming from whoever opened the road. Working a street fair? Whoever put on the fair pays. How one accrues three times their salary doing that, I'm not sure, but perhaps for someone in a director's position they get higher rates of pay to take part in these things.

And non-tax dollars presumably includes grant funding as well.

The names I recognize were rarely so high as C+ students

Nah he's right. I went to school with some of these idiots

iT kEePs HaPpEnInG

It's rude of you to assume that I'm being serious....

it's not an assumption

This is from 2019?

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And now compare that to NJ teacher salaries to see where the priorities really are...

https://content-static.northjersey.com/Data/caspio/bundle/NJTeachersPay.html

That's a rude thing to assume

What's the alternative to shopping at a mall?..Mall shopping is that essential?.. What?

The reality is if you question these salaries, you're going after the Blue Line and don't support law enforcement. But realistically these are not justifiable salaries given the work load they face. And a lot of these higher paying towns are suburbs with nothing really going on. I know there is an inherent danger with the position, but they know that signing up and it doesn't mean they should be paid soooo much

Not so much the schools as the administrators... Just look at the service done in Central Regional....

Thanks for this advice. I am an excellent tenant and know that’s recognized by my landlord. I also know that he has properties an hour and a half north and would prefer not to be bothered with this property. He even offered to sell it to me. The approach you outline is probably my best shot.

OT and pension. He’s not getting cash or hush money. That’d be silly.

Remember this next time the Police Officer's Blah Blah Retirement Fund calls for contributions