Don't cheat children in budget decisions

It saddened me to read the letter to the editor titled "Cut School Budget, Not Trash Services" (Sentinel, Feb. 12) that implied there is some tradeoff between money spent on garbage pickup and education.

I believe it is possible to offer great services at good prices if we are careful about the decisions we make, and I believe both Mayor David Stahl and the Board of Education are determined to do just that.

I lived most my life in places where garbage was picked up once a week, and we all survived just fine. The mess is less on the streets since we only put out the trash once a week. Proper bags can contain most odors. The legitimate concerns about condominium associations are being addressed by the mayor, and I am confident a decision in the best interest of the town will be reached.

What many people, especially those who do not have children in the school system, fail to realize is that providing excellent schools is in the best interest of all of us. Not only are children our future, but the reputation of the school system makes our town a desirable place for people to live, which has a direct impact on our property values.

In these difficult times what I hope is that we all make decisions that are in the best long-term interest of our wonderful town rather than cheat our children out of the excellence they deserve.
Deborah Cornavaca
East Brunswick