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VOTERS DECIDE FATE OF $141 MILLION SCHOOL BUDGET
WITH BALLOT QUESTIONS, TAX RATE COULD RISE OVER 11 CENTS
By Keith Hagarty
 | | --Photo By Keith Hagarty The planned closing of both the Primary Learning Center (above), on Chambers Bridge Road, and the Laurelton School, on Princeton Avenue, highlight the Brick Township School District's $141 million 2008-2009 budget, now facing voters on Tuesday, April 15. |
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On Tuesday, April 15, voters will have final say on the Brick School District's proposed $141 million budget for the 2008-2009 school year.
The overall budget is $7.8 million more than last year, an 8.2 percent increase, and calls for a 9.8-cent tax rate increase per $100 of assessed property value on a home. If approved by voters, the increase would mean a Brick homeowner with a property assessed at $134,000 would pay about $130 more per year.
Last year, voters overwhelmingly approved the district's $120 million 2007-2008 school budget and its 6.26-cent tax rate increase by a vote of 5,944 to 3,762.
This year, the district will also be asking voters to weigh in on two special ballot questions.
The first question calls for the dedication of $150,000 to hire a district security supervisor and secretary.
The second question asks for $478,500 to upgrade computers and technological equipment currently used throughout the district.
Under state regulations, for any school individual referendum question to pass, it must receive over 60 percent voter approval.
If approved, both referendums would increase the tax rate by 1.3 cents, or about $17 more per year. Should both the budget and the two questions be approved by voters, the tax rate would rise by a total of 11.1 cents, or an average residential property tax increase of $149 per year.
Last year, voters said yes to four separate ballot questions by a wide margin, calling for $300,000 in funding for non-mandated courtesy busing; $800,000 for extracurricular activities, including athletics and school clubs; $275,000 for security enhancements throughout the school district, including security cameras and identification technology; as well as a one-time expenditure for roof repairs at an estimated cost of $4.4 million, with about $1.7 million coming from the state. The repairs were for both high schools, the Herbertsville annex, Veterans Memorial Middle School and Lake Riviera Middle School.
Highlighting this year's budget are plans to close two of the district's schools for the coming school year. The closing of Primary Learning Center (PLC), on Chambers Bridge Road, would save the district about $800,000; while the closing of the Laurelton School, on Princeton Avenue, would provide an additional $24,000 in savings, according to interim Superintendent of Schools Melindo Persi.
Faced with a $3.5 million budget gap and tight state restrictions, closing the two schools was an unfortunate necessity, said Board President Cynthia McCarthy.
"Within the limitations of a four percent (state) cap, and the need to maintain educational programs and services for all of our students, the board determined that the most fiscally responsible option available was to close the Primary Learning Center and the Laurelton School," McCarthy said in a statement released to voters this week. "These difficult decisions were made only after cuts in several other areas, including athletics, were made, and all feasible options were thoroughly reviewed. The Laurelton School property will be sold, and the PLC will be utilized as a revenue stream for the district."
Other notable highlights in the budget include $55.4 million for instruction, about a $2.6 million increase over last year, or five percent.
According to Persi, the budgeted $2.1 million in salary increase is primarily due to contractual demands. In addition, nearly two dozen district staff members will either have their positions eliminated, or will be leaving the district because of retirement. Some of the reduced positions include: five teachers, six classroom aides, three nurses, one librarian, three secretaries, one principal, two assistant principals and one social worker.
"We'll be 22 staff members short next year," said Persi cautioned. "That's a sad thing, and it's a difficult thing. It's unfair to this district, in terms of the state aid, whereas if the state had decided to afford us $700,000 more in aid, with salaries going up by 3.7 percent, it would've just given us more (money) to operate. So we had to make some drastic cuts."
However, despite the proposed cuts, the district will not be eliminating any of its current programs.
The district's administration emphasized eight priorities being of utmost importance throughout the 2008-2009 budget process, which included: maintaining current programs, enhancing high school offerings, relocating the PLC students, hiring an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, hiring a security officer, replacing textbooks, enhancing terminology and replacing transportation vehicles.
If approved by voters on Tuesday, the budget would be enacted at the beginning of the school year in September. However, if voters reject the budget, it would then be reviewed by the Township Council, where further recommended cuts would be discussed and possibly implemented.
Polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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