Meet Mussab Ali, Natalia Ioffe, Joan Terrell Paige and Marilyn Roman. We discussed the passed S-2 legislation, which eliminates, over a seven-year period to 2025, Transitional State Aid that was expected to bring the JC district $175 million. This year's cut is $3.5 million but next year's is going to top $20 million. The state has also approved allowing Jersey City to impose a 1 percent payroll tax to make up for the cuts in transitional aid of $175 million by 2025. About half of that is expected to be offset by a local payroll tax, but that tax plan has yet to win approval from the City Council. Business groups, led by the Lefrak organization, are staunchly opposed to the tax and are lobbying council members to defeat it. Council President Lavarro said the council will probably not vote on the payroll tax until after its Sept. 12 meeting.

SPORTS: The 29,000-student district has cut all freshman athletic teams and reduced the number of assistant coaches. Freshmen will remain eligible for varsity and junior varsity teams. Golf and bowling teams are cut entirely. Sports programs for high school and middle school students are affected. The cuts came after the district had to close a $70 million shortfall earlier this year and had raised the tax rate above the 2% cap. The state, meanwhile, took back more than $5 million in expected aid. The cuts to athletics represent about $1 million, according to Sudhan Thomas, the school board president.

The Board of Ed election is on the same ballot as the General Election, which is Tuesday, November 6th. Please take a look at your sample ballot before-hand and don't forget to vote !! Tell your neighbors about this You Tube video. School taxes represent about 28% of your tax bill but could be a lot more in the future.