A raise in tuition could mean a raise in public taxes
By: Matt Kirdahy
Rising tuition at Princeton High School, two new bus routes and an increase in staff salaries and benefits could mean an 6.3 percent increase in school taxes for Cranbury residents.
The Board of Education unveiled a tentative budget for the 2003-2004 school year that would raise the school tax rate 12.5 cents to $2.117 per $100 of assessed valuation and increase overall school spending for school operations to $11.22 million, a 13.8 percent increase.
At the tentatively proposed rate, the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $275,000 would pay $5,821.75 in school taxes, an increase of $343.75.
School district officials said a 26.2 percent in tuition to Princeton for students attending Princeton High School was the biggest inCrease driven by an 8.8 percent increase in tuition per student and an 11.3 percent increase in the number of students going to Princeton.
In addition, increases in the cost of transportation caused by increasing enrollment, new debt payments for the new wing under construction at the school and increases in total salaries and benefits to cover new staff and contractual pay hikes are also driving up the budget.
District officials are anticipating receiving $629,837 in state aid, which accounts for 6 percent of the total budget. It is the same amount they received in 2002-2003. However, Gov. James E. McGreevey said in his budget address Tuesday that cuts in aid for some districts were possible. Figures for aid were not available Thursday.
The biggest factor in this year’s budget increase is tuition. Cranbury is estimating a $592,593 increase in the amount of total tuition it will pay to Princeton in 2003-2004. The increase, which would bring total tuition to Princeton to $2.26 million, accounts for 43.5 percent of the total budget increase anticipated for next year. Cranbury sends its high school students to Princeton because it does not have its own high school.
The increase is being caused by two factors an increase in per-student tuition and an increase in high school enrollment. Princeton has told the Cranbury board it will charge $12,800 per student in 2003-2004, up from $11,769 during the current school year.
In addition, the board anticipates sending 20 more students to Princeton, increasing total Cranbury enrollment at the high school to 197.
Tuition at Cranbury School also is increasing, from 572 to 598. The district plans to add two new bus routes in September one at the high school and one for Cranbury School to accommodate the new students. The new bus routes will force transportation costs to increase 30.55 percent, from $328,099 to an anticipated $428,325.
The district also plans to hire new staff to deal with the increased K-8 enrollment. The tentative budget includes a new part-time nurse, a part-time general and instrumental instructor and a special education teacher. The district also plans to hire a new custodian and bus driver.
Total salaries and wages for district employees are expected to increase 7.86 percent, from $4.27 million to $4.61 million, to cover the new staff members and contractual salary increases.
Benefit costs also will increase 22 percent, from $1.7 million to $1.31 million to cover new staff and contractual requirements, according to the budget. The district anticipates paying 15 percent more for medical coverage and 28 percent more for prescription coverage.
Cranbury School Business Administrator Brian DeLucia said exact figures won’t be available until the renewal period in May.
Debt service payments also are increasing 2.88 percent to $741,235.

