Hastings-on-Hudson: Best Public Schools

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Permalink Reply by Susan on May 23, 2009 at 10:16am

Dianne:

I love that our schools are great too, but i wonder if we really spend our money as wisely as we could. It seems like all we do is raise more taxes, even in times where everyone is cutting! I heard, for example (not confirmed - only "heard") that our crossing guards get paid $30/hour. Why would we pay a position like this at this rate i wonder? Also, why is there a need for a cop AND a $30/hour crossing guard?

Why for that matter (off topic) do we have 23 (I think) police officers in a town of under 8000? I mean i think our guys do a great job, don't get me wrong, but we are hardly a crime-filled community that needs 1 cop for every 347 people, are we?

S

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Permalink Reply by Diane Flood Taylor on June 1, 2009 at 12:04pm

Hi, Susan:

Our schools being great is separate and apart from crossing guards and cops.

That being said, while I cannot confirm nor deny that the crossing guards are paid $30 an hour, when you think about the fact that they work 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon, even at $30 ah hour, that's $60 a day. They cannot, arguably, hold another job due to their "post" so it seems fair to me to pay them $60 a day to be out there crossing our children in any kind of weather. Once they have taxes taken out, what can they really take home, $40, if that?

Without actually speaking to the Chief of Police, the word on the street is that motorists did not adhere to the directions of the crossing guard at the corner of Farragut and Olinda, outside the Farragut Middle School, in years gone by. As a result, the Police Dept attempts to have an officer there for some period of time in the morning and in the afternoon as the students come and go from school. When there's an emergency, they do tap that officer, so only the crossing guard remains. It's only at this intersection that you see both a Police Officer and a crossing guard.

The force now has 20 members if you look on-line at the most recent information and photograph. That's not a very high number when you consider that they have to cover 3 shifts and have a desk officer, patrol officers and the Chief. That also has to include coverage when officers have vacation, sick time, go to the Academy, go to Court, etc..

Unquestionably, we need to be mindful of tax dollars here in Hastings as people are doing everywhere. I think the cops and the crossing guards do a fine job and I would not look at them for budget cuts.

Best regards,
Diane

Susan said:

Dianne:

I love that our schools are great too, but i wonder if we really spend our money as wisely as we could. It seems like all we do is raise more taxes, even in times where everyone is cutting! I heard, for example (not confirmed - only "heard") that our crossing guards get paid $30/hour. Why would we pay a position like this at this rate i wonder? Also, why is there a need for a cop AND a $30/hour crossing guard?

Why for that matter (off topic) do we have 23 (I think) police officers in a town of under 8000? I mean i think our guys do a great job, don't get me wrong, but we are hardly a crime-filled community that needs 1 cop for every 347 people, are we?

S

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Permalink Reply by Susan on June 9, 2009 at 11:45am

Dianne:

But again, do you think we spend our funds wisely? or we just respond to whatever is requested?

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