Question of the Week: Are You Getting Your Money's Worth in Local Taxes?

Villagers will be going to the polls on April 27 to vote on both the school board candidates as well as the , which could see the average homeowner fork over an additional $191 though programs will not see cuts, nor will staff (in contrast to last year, which saw significant cuts in staff and changes to programming).

The village too will be introducing , where municipal taxes are projected to go up between 5.2 percent and 7.4 percent; the latter figure will bring back laid off village workers while increasing taxes $255 for the average homeowner assessed at just under $800,000. Services were affected due to the rash of over 30 workers leaving after cuts were made, officials have said.

It's no secret taxes go up for what seems like perpetuity, and not just in Ridgewood, though incomes are not for most these days. But are these proposed increases worth the level of service provided by the two bodies? Should the village sacrifice some services to keep the tax level at a minimum level? Should the district do away with more teachers, programs, staff and/or administrators at the schools?

If you were in the position of council and school board members, how would YOU balance the need to provide service while keeping taxes as low as possible?