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New School Board Gets First Crack At Reviewing Defeated Budget
By Keith Hagarty
After voters resoundingly defeated the school district's proposed $141 million budget last week, the Township Council now prepares to see what, if any, line items can be trimmed to help reduce any potential impact to the taxpayers.
The proposed 2008-2009 school year budget called for a 9.8-cent tax rate increase per $100 of assessed property value on a home. Had it been approved by voters, the increase would have meant a Brick homeowner with a property assessed at $134,000 would pay about $130 more per year.
Last Tuesday, Brick voters overwhelmingly rejected the budget by more than 1,200 votes.
However, before the council rolls up their sleeves to review the budget, they would first like to see the new-look Brick Township Board of Education have the opportunity to revise some of the figures before it is submitted to the council next month for further review and possible recommended cuts.
With three new members elected to the board last week- Michael Pifko, Vicky Leone and Kim Terebush- the council agreed that since the will of the voters was to seek a fresh, new start for the board of education, the new board members should have the chance to review the budget firsthand before the council takes its turn.
"The voters clearly supported these candidates' vision for our schools," said Council President Ruthanne Scaturro. "We are going to give them the opportunity to make sure that this budget reflects their plans as well as the promises they made."
Both of the district's special ballot questions were also shot down by voters. Under state regulations, for any school individual referendum question to pass, it must receive over 60 percent voter approval.
The first question, calling for the dedication of $150,000 to hire a district security supervisor and secretary, was soundly defeated by a vote of 6,322 to 1,517, or 81 percent voting against it. The second question asked for $478,500 to upgrade the aging computers and technological equipment currently used throughout the district, which voters rejected with 4,655 votes, or 61 percent, against it, while only 2,947 voters, or 39 percent, supported the measure.
Following the board's review of the proposed school budget, the council is expected to contract a special consultant to help find additional cost-saving measures. The council will then send the revised budget and proposed recommendations to the board of education for approval, or for appeal to the state Department of Education.
After serving as the former president of the board of education before being elected to a council seat in November, Brian DeLuca said the voters sent a message loud and clear to the township about how they want their educational system to be run for their kids.
"The election results showed that the people of Brick wanted change in the direction of our schools," he said. "The election winners promised change, and now they have a chance to make it happen. I am eager to see their recommendations."
It is the second straight year the school budget has been rejected by voters, as this year's budget process also called for the closing of the Primary Learning Center (PLC), on Chambers Bridge Road, saving the district about $800,000; as well as the closing of the Laurelton School, on Princeton Avenue, which is expected to provide an additional savings of $24,000.
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