Average Monroe homeowner would pay $94 a year more
John Saccenti
MONROE A public hearing on the 2000-2001 school budget that will cost the average homeowner an additional $94 a year began with the music and flashy graphics of a Power Point presentation.
But since residents in attendance did not comment on the budget, the hearing ended in near silence.
The Board of Education adopted a $37.6 million budget following the presentation and hearing Wednesday.
The budget goes to voters April 18.
If approved, the budget, which is 11 percent larger than the current school year’s spending plan, would increase the tax rate 5.6 percent, from $1.25 per $100 of assessed valuation to $1.32. The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $134,260 would pay $1,772 in school taxes.
Superintendent Stuart Schnur said that, because of state mandated programs and capital improvement projects, the proposed budget was one of the most difficult to put together in years. Neither can be reduced and both account for well over 80 percent of the budget, he said.
Approximately 5 cents of the proposed 7-cent tax increase is due to more than $3 million in principal payments and interest on school renovations, expansions and the construction of a new Mill Lake School. Regular budget increases account for close to 3 cents, said Dr. Schnur.
The budget includes $1.9 million in principal payments and interest on bonds due on the $24.5 million referendum approved by voters last year. The project allowed the district to begin construction on a new Mill Lake School, expand and renovate the Barclay Brook and Woodland schools, to construct two classrooms and add 40 parking spaces at the Brookside School and to build an outdoor recreation area.
The budget also includes a $1.2 million payment due on a 1997 referendum that allowed for the renovation and expansion of the high school.
Overall, debt service will increase 80 percent, from $2.36 million to $4.27 million. Debt service is the amount set aside to pay interest and principal on money borrowed for construction or purchase.
According to Dr. Schnur, the school board eliminated several items from the budget in order to help offset the increase. The board originally wanted to include $257,512 for new computers; $33,000 for equipment; $2,100 for a middle school football program; $42,798 for two part-time high school teachers; $15,000 for noncurricular field trips and $59,700 for a staff development position.