Budget adopted; 35-cent tax hike sent to voters
Residents, teachers have mix of praise, criticism
for board’s proposal
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — The Board of Education unanimously adopted a 2002-03 budget totaling about $98 million during a public hearing last Thursday after mixed opinions were expressed by teachers and residents.
The budget carries a property tax increase of about 35 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The base budget, to be voted on by residents April 16, stands at about $96 million, while a second question being put to voters would add another $2.4 million to the budget. The budget is split into two separate questions because it exceeds the state cap on annual spending increases.
Township resident Ronald Keller told the board the budget includes items that should not be paid for by the entire community. He said "courtesy" busing, which costs $613,000, and is provided to 2,300 students who live within a certain proximity to their schools, and the early drop-off program should be paid for by the parents of students who actually use them. Both items are included in the budget’s second question.
Jim Miller, a resident, who was identified as a former Board of Education employee, said the board was overlooking wasteful spending and the duplication of jobs.
"Board members, you didn’t look hard enough," he said. "It’s time to cut the wasteful spending."
Each person who spoke critically of the budget was greeted by light applause from the packed municipal council chambers, where the meeting was held.
While some parents expressed support for programs that they perceive as being in danger of being cut since the board has placed them in the second question, such as band camp and early drop-off, the majority of those who spoke voiced strong support for the entire budget. Some also expressed sympathy for the board due to the challenges it faces with this year’s budget — one that deals with flat state aid and a wide array of fixed, increasing expenses.
"Building a budget with no increase in state aid makes this challenge daunting," said Cathy Schwartz, president of the East Brunswick Education Foundation. "Our schools need adequate funding to continue to be excellent."
One resident stated that he believes the district’s schools have been successful despite the problems with state funding. He said the fact that the schools are not getting the money they want has had little effect on East Brunswick students, who continue to get high SAT scores. He also pointed out the state does not mandate the maximum number of students who can be in a classroom.
"I submit it’s high time that this board make due with this paltry $98 million," he said.
He also criticized the Township Council for upholding last year’s budget as proposed by the board even though its two questions were defeated by voters. That budget carried a tax rate increase of about 24 cents.
Taxpayers, he said, are not "a bottomless pit of money."
Susan Palmer, a parent and new school employee, said teacher pay in East Brunswick is below the state average, and as a result the district loses some talented teachers to other districts.
She also said that the early drop-off program is needed because of the district’s two-tiered busing schedule, which saves it money.
She also criticized the ideas of some that items such as textbooks should be cut from the budget.
"I don’t know when textbooks became a frill," she said.
Mariane Thomas, a parent, said she supported the idea of keeping band programs because it brings educational diversity to the district.
"I strongly believe in the importance of the arts," she said.
"It’s very difficult to pay additional money for taxes each year, but I didn’t bring my children into this world to save money," she said.
John Kish, a teacher at East Brunswick High School, said the idea of all residents paying to support education is necessary for the well-being of society as a whole. He said there may be a better way to fund education, but that people still need to support the current system.
"Don’t take it out on us until that better way is found," he said.
Nearly every person, who spoke in favor of the budget, was greeted by loud applause.
Board member Patrick Sirr said he went through the budget line by line and did not believe there was any waste or room to cut.
He also put forward a motion to include all 38 of the custodians in the base budget. The 38 positions — initially proposed to be cut altogether in order to save money by bringing in a private cleaning service — were restored earlier last week when the board decided to put 25 of the positions back in the base budget, and the other 13 in the second question. The 13 positions in the second question are all evening custodians at East Brunswick High School.
Sirr’s motion to include all of the custodians in the base budget was voted down by the board.
"It’s important for the morale of the staff that we bring the custodians back into the base," he said.
He proposed that the board make room for the 13 custodian positions by moving about $156,000 worth of items from the base budget into the second question. Those items included roughly $100,000 from sixth-period instruction, $22,000 from summer school busing, $2,000 from Project Graduation busing, and $30,000 for a new accountant position.
When Sirr was speaking about possible changes to the way education is funded in New Jersey, board President Neal Rosen stopped him and announced it was time for a break in the meeting. Sirr expressed his frustration with Rosen when the meeting resumed and he realized that the cameras for the local television station had been turned off.
He said talking on television was a great way to let the public know the board is working to change the property tax-based funding system.
School officials have said that expenses are expected to increase in 2002-03 by about $4 million from the present school year, primarily due to fixed costs involved with growing student enrollment, special education costs, and contractual increases dealing with salaries and benefits.
While expenses rise, state aid is remaining at last year’s level and anticipated growth in tax ratables did not come to fruition in time for this budget.
The tax increase is proposed to go from $3.48 to approximately $3.84 per $100 of assessed valuation next year, bringing the total amount paid by the owner of property assessed at $100,000 to $3,840 annually in school taxes — an increase of about $350 over the present year.