(POLL) Would You Have Approved the 2012-13 School Budget?
Spending plan in place for upcoming school year. Would you have approved the budget if there was a school election this year?
The Board of Education approved a $131,176,099 school budget Thursday after just one resident talked about the plan.
The 2012-13 spending plan calls for $110,437,402 to be raised by taxes and carries a tax rate increase of 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $100,000 can expect to pay an additional $100 in school taxes next year.
Once it was approved by the school board Thursday, the document became the official budget for the 2012-13 school year. In February, the school board voted to move school elections to the General Election in November. Under the new rules, school budgets would go to voters only if the district requests a spending increase of more than 2 percent. This year’s proposal increases.
During the public hearing,, Constance Lonczak was the lone resident who spoke about the budget.
During a presentation at the East Brunswick Performing Arts Center on March 22, Business Administrator Bernardo Giuliana said the district has had to struggle to keep the general fund stable despite sharply decreases instate aid.
According to his presentation, the General Fund was $133,712,201 in 2008-09; $132,828,114 in 2009-10; $127,169,614 in 2010-11; and $128,729,810 for the current year.
Over the same time, state aid has steadily dropped, and despite increases over the last two years, aid levels to the district are still below where they were in the 2008-09 school year. In that year, the district received $20,0878,014 in state aid; in 2009-10 it received $15,527,825; in 2010-11 it received $13,817,220; in 2011-12 it received $15,145,501; for the current year it received $16,473, 782 and for the upcoming year it expects to receive $17,678,170.
On the revenue side for the upcoming school year, district expects to raise $110,437,402 through taxes; to receive $17,678,170 in state aid; to use $1,977,074 from fund balance; $500,000 in extraordinary aid; $207,525 in fees; $80,000 in tuition; and $144,000 in other revenue for a total estimated revenue of $131,176,099.
On the expense side, the district expects to pay $835,210 in fees; $1,873,008 for charter schools; $2,514,061 for professional services, including instructional, medical, nursing, speech/OPT, auditing/legal, network and environmental; $2,804,754 on short term debt and equipment; $3,198,109 on gas and electric utilities; $3,298,418 on supplies, materials, textbooks and vehicle fuel; $3,927,352 on special education tuition; $4,626,192 for facility repair and cleaning; $8,519,870 on purchases services such as transportation, insurance, communications and maintenance; and $99,579,125 for salaries and benefits for $131,176,099 in total estimated expenses.
The estimated revenue and estimated expenses calls for a shortfall of $1,947,281.
Deborah Cornavaca
7:11 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
There is a law in this state that pertains to state funding of public schools - the SFRA is a school funding formula that sets out how much money the state is to give each school district. In 2009-2010, in the middle of a school year, the state stripped East Brunswick of over $5 million of that SFRA funding. The total amount that the state has underfunded SFRA for East Brunswick since 2009 (and including the next year of FY2012-2013) is a whopping $23 million. If we had gotten that money that we are entitled to by law, we would more programs (such as foreign language in elementary I bet) and property tax relief for all residents of East Brunswick. I do not enjoy paying more in property tax, but until such time that our state meets their obligations to the public schools, I will support the BoE in their quest to maintain excellence in the face of unprecedented loss, especially one under the state mandated cap.
Matt
9:45 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The money you are referring to was taken by the state because the BoE was refusing to use it. They were keeping it as a "rainy day fund" the state gave them ample warning before they took it back. We have no one to blame but the BoE. As far as property tax relief if the township would do a reassessment of land value (something it is required to do by law every 10 years but hasn't done in over 30) we'd see some relief.
Kelly
9:15 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Yes, considering that the state has not fulfilled it's funding obligations to our district, and considering the 2 million siphoned out of our budget by Hatikvah charter school, all that aside, it is a pretty lean budget.
Bob
7:18 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Irregardless of what numbers are put into the budget - they will be entering just enough to get below the 2% cap thereby avoiding the property owners approval/disapproval who pay the majority of taxes for education - even SENIORS do not get a break - maybe they should tax the representatives of the public who pay little or no taxes - yet create laws for us to follow - when will judges pay their fair share into the pension fund??? Interesting the $ figures only show up once a year???
Deborah Cornavaca
8:28 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
The Governor's current budget proposes an income tax cut that will save an average tax payer about $2.00/week. If we did not do that tax cut, properly funded schools with the amount dictated by the law of the formula, districts would not only have millions more to fund schools but would also be able to provide property tax relief as they have done in years past. the current proposed budget will not re-institute property tax relief for the average middle class and will not help the schools. This budget does not do what we need and should not be passed.
Anyone
12:54 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012
If the surrounding towns can keep the ed budget flat, why does EB year after year have to raise their budget? They are not special or different from any other blue ribbon district.
Kelly
1:07 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012
Anyone, I'm not sure exactly what town you are comparing E.B. to, but if you care to offer specifics we could compare.
Remember that each year, Hatikvah adds an additional grade, siphoning out another half of a million dollars form the budget.
Remember, that this year, East Brunswick is instituting Full-Day Kindergarten, a move that not all of our neighbors have accomplished yet.
Keep in mind, that in 2010, the Govornor stole our entire surplus that was meant for capitol repairs and improvements, and we are not tasked with paying for those costs out of our working budgets. Not al of our neighbors were so responsible to have saved a surplus for these costs, but East Brunswick did, and unfortunately the towns who were responsible with their dollars in that way, were penalized for their good management skills! Go figure!
Just some thoughts to answer your question.
Deborah Cornavaca
2:47 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012
The budget has decreased over the past few years but as property tax income has also decreased, and fixed costs increased, so has the need to add additional tax burden to the local property tax payer - in addition to cutting programs and instituting pay for play and club participation. Remember the state is underfunding us - this year alone - by around $4million. But as a point of fact - flat budgets often result in increase property taxes.
JJ Jones
12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Hopefully, with the BOE elections in November, Republicans will challege for the seats and cut the budget with a sharp knife.