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2008-09 budget approved unanimously
(by Kathryn A. Burger - April 09, 2008)
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Election and Budget Vote
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ELECTION:
Five candidates are vying for three, three-year terms on the board.
The election will be held on Tuesday, April 15 from 2 to 9 p.m.
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BUDGET:
Voters are being asked to approve a tax levy to fund the school district for the 2008-2009 school year:
Budget - $20,904,009 - about 5.45 percent over last year that would result in an increase of $264 for the owner of a home valued at the borough’s average of $513,000.
Second Question – $310,000 – approval would result in additional tax levy of $47 per average homeowner
Total average increase if budget and Second Question are approved - $311.park ridge board of education
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The audience response to the Park Ridge Board of Education’s budget presentation on March 26 was unexpected. At the conclusion of the 90-minute narrative, illustrated with PowerPoint pie charts, photos and bullet-point lists, Dan Browne, the board president asked if anyone had any questions. No one came forward.
Tax increases
More than 30 residents came to the meeting that was dedicated solely to the proposed 2008-2009 school budget. The increase in the tax levy – $1,021,549 – is the lowest in the past seven years, according to Business Administrator Robert Wright. The tax increase based on the average assessed home value of $513,000 would be $264.
A Second Question will also appear on the ballot. Taxpayers are being asked to approve an additional tax levy of $310,000 to fund items that are deemed important: the equivalent of three full-time positions – one full-time staff member to maintain class sizes, and the hours equivalent to two additional staff members to provide remediation and enrichment; the installation of electronic security monitoring of outside doors in all buildings and the replacement of the bleachers in the high school gym are the items. These costs cannot be included in the budget because of the state mandate that prevents districts from raising the tax levy more than four percent over the previous year’s levy. If approved, the tax levy would be increased by $47. (Previously published articles on the budget can be found at www.pvcommunitylife.com).
Unlike the budget that can be approved by a simple majority, the Second Question must be approved by a supermajority – 60 percent – to gain approval.
Dollars and cents
During the Financial Review portion of the presentation, Wright explained how the budget is spent. A pie chart accompanying his explanation provided how the “budget pie” is “consumed”:
71 percent – Staff salary and benefits
17 percent – Special education in-district and out-placement
5 percent – Operations – running the buildings, including heat and energy costs
5 percent – Support services including guidance and administration
2 percent – Supplies, including textbooks
He also explained that 91 percent of the budget increases this year are attributable to four specific areas:
$543,749 – Special Education costs
$449,743 – New and competitive salaries
$198,463 – Employee benefits
$193,725 – Energy costs
Cost control measures the district employed included reducing benefits for non-tenured teaching staff; taking advantage of shared services by working to reduce transportation costs for special education and vocation needs through a jointure with Region II and the Pascack Valley Regional High School District; and participating in consortiums to purchase school supplies, banking services and insurance.
State aid
In explaining anticipated state aid for the 2008-2009 school year, Wright said that of the additional $91,999 the district received, only $22,494 can be used to offset budget increases. He added that the district was entitled to $482,887 in “Extraordinary Aid,” this school year, but received only $112,567, about 23 percent.
Budget highlights
Johnson provided an overview of new and/or improved services/staffing contained in the budget including:
A full-time media specialist for each elementary school
The reinstatement of transportation for field trips, band trips and
Camp
Bernie
Maintains class sizes and adds programs
Continues program development in mathematics, language/literacy and world languages and supports comprehensive professional development.
The budget maintains a total of 28 interscholastic athletic teams and 30 extra curricular and co-curricular activities.
Public input
With no comments or questions from the audience, board member Peter Montalbano said the increase in taxes amounted to 86 cents a day. “Last year [when the budget was voted down], we had to cut the budget. It amounted to a $40 per year decrease. Was it really worth it?” He said he wouldn’t want to see sports and clubs cut because of a budget defeat. “We’re not wasting money,” he said.
An audience member then asked for more information on the proposal to add a security system to the outside doors. Wright explained that the monitoring system also includes a locking system and that other enhancements, including cameras and swipe cards for entry can be added in the future, if funding is available.
The only other resident to speak took exception to the district fully funding benefits for employees citing the 15 percent of the budget that those costs represent. He asked if the board if they were considering having employees contribute to the cost of their benefits. Dan Browne, the board president, declined to comment saying the subject of benefits will be addressed during negotiations and that he could not talk about it.
A PowerPoint presentation on the budget and other budget information is posted at www.parkridge.k12.nj.us; click on “Budget” on the menu at left on the homepage.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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