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Local school tax up, regional tax drops
(by Maggie Fazeli Fard - March 26, 2008)
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At a glance
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General Fund
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$17,956,239
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Tax Levy
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$16,810,226
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Debt Service
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$985,305
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State Aid
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$787,286
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Tax impact
Average assessed home ($594,000)
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Voting venues
Tuesday, April 15 from 2 to 9 p.m.
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Polling district #1
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Roberge
School , Room #25 |
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Polling district #2
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Holdrum School New Gym
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Polling district #3
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Woodside School Library
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Polling district #4
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Woodside School Library
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Polling district #5
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Roberge
School , Room #25 |
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The River Vale Board of Education presented the local school budget for the 2008-2009 school year on Monday, March 24, but not before River Vale Superintendent David Verducci took the opportunity to point out what taxpayers’ money has been spent on.
“A mistake a lot of schools make is they look at the budget as dollars and cents,” said Verducci. “I see it as the life’s blood that allows us to do everything we do so well.”
Verducci commenced Monday’s board meeting with a presentation to recognize “students who just did some really awesome things,” such as scoring perfect scores in the Continental Math League, recycling, winning a statewide handwriting competition, and being accepted into Region 1 and All State music groups, as well as to announce the 2008 teachers of the year.
“There is value in what you have spent,” said Verducci.
For residents seeking a glimpse of the dollars and cents they will pay to fund the 2008-2009 school year, Business Administrator and Board Secretary Kelly Ippolito offered a PowerPoint presentation breaking down the local school budget, which calls for an increase of $186.90 on the average assessed home of $594,000. By contrast, River Vale will see a decrease of $48.45 for the regional school tax.
The budget calls for $19,159,309 in spending, including $985,305 in debt service, a $815,332 increase. Of that, $16,810,226 is to be raised through taxation, an increase of $643,634.
Budget items that would see an increase include regular program instruction, up 12 percent from the current year for a total of $7,055,732, and basic skills/remedial instruction, which would increase by eight percent to $273,923. Special education instruction would not see an increase but special education tuition would be up 15 percent to $785,656. Guidance and student support services would see the biggest increase, up 33 percent to $1,179,059.
Areas that would see budgetary cuts include instructional staff training services, down 29 percent to $23,943, and capital outlay, less than half of what was budgeted in 2007-2008.
In addition to maintaining current programs, the district plans to include new programs such as Global Multicultural Heritage Project, which will offer students a link to Chinese school life via the use of Web cams.
“Not only do we have a financially responsible budget,” said Board of Education President Lorraine Waldes, “we have a budget that is introducing new programs.”
Additionally, the district will ask for $81,000 in funding through a two-part second question, which asks for $25,000 to increase school security and $56,000 to hire part-time health and speech teachers. The second question would require 60 percent voter approval to pass.
The public will vote on the budget and second question on Tuesday, April 15.
Maggie Fazeli Fard's e-mail address is fazelifard@northjersey.com.
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