Keyport looking at 11.9¢ school budget increase
KEYPORT — The Board of Education unanimously introduced a $13,945,018 budget at a special meeting last Wednesday. The tentative 2002-03 spending plan would result in an 11.9-cent tax rate increase, including .002 cents for debt service.
The public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Keyport Central School all-purpose room.
The tentative budget includes $11,972,941 for current expenses; $1,619,237 for special revenues, which are grants; and $352,840 for debt service. The district will receive $4,264,017 in state aid, the same amount as this year.
According to Business Administrator David Winter, the budget increase is due to a number of unavoidable factors many towns are currently dealing with. Health insurance costs are up $166,762. There is also an $8,798 increase for workers’ compensation insurance, and property and casualty insurance is up $2,706. Student transportation costs are also up $36,503.
Winter said that there are also increased costs associated with salaries, but he did not want to discuss those numbers. "We budgeted an increase," he said, "but negotiations are currently under way, and it would not be appropriate to discuss the numbers at this time."
There are also staff changes that will help control costs. For example, Winter said the Excel alternative school program to combat school dropouts has been relocated from the Keyport Reformed Church back to the high school, which will make more staff available.
Winter said that a half-time home economics position has been eliminated, but "the staff from the alternative school will be reallocated to provide additional electives for high school students." Winter said the position was eliminated because the district could not find anyone to fill it, but that all programs "will remain in effect."
A science teacher position will be added at the high school for an earth science class that will begin in September.
— Darlene Diebold