Bigger budget, bigger taxes
By: Sharlee DiMenichi
School taxes could rise 6.4 percent if a proposed $104.34 million budget is approved by voters in April.
The district unveiled its proposed 2003-2004 spending plan Monday night. It would raise taxes 11.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to $1.972 and calls for 16 new teaching positions to accommodate an anticipated 361 new students.
District officials said they were able to keep spending increases to a minimum this year, but a freeze on state aid meant that taxes would have to rise. The district is expecting $18.25 million in aid, the same as in 2002-2003.
In addition, the district is planning to use $3.225 million of its surplus, called a free balance, as revenue in the budget.
While enrollment is increasing by 8.4 percent, district officials said they were able to control overall spending by targeting areas that do not directly affect students. Those areas include delaying equipment purchases, construction and conserving on maintenance.
If the proposed budget is approved, the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $186,900 would pay $3,685 in school taxes during the 2003-2004 school year, up $220.
Spending in the proposed budget is slated to increase 4.6 percent, from the $99.42 million budgeted for in the current year spending plan. The school budget is divided into three sections: the general fund, which covers the day-to-day operations of the district; special revenue funds, which covers programs paid for with state and federal money; and debt service, which covers the principal and interest on money borrowed by the district for construction and other projects. Voters only vote on the tax levy, or total amount needed from taxpayers, associated with the general fund.
Voters will go to the polls April 15 to decide the fate of a $71.88 million tax levy.
The largest increase in the budget is in the instructional line. The budget calls for $31.49 million to be spent on regular instruction, including $28.49 million for in teacher salaries and $325,210 for textbooks. During the current year, the district spent $30.46 million on regular instruction, including $27.19 million on teacher salaries and $465,055 on textbooks.
The allocation for special education is $5.82 million, compared to $5.19 million in the current year.
The board plans to hire 16 new teachers in the coming year to keep class sizes at their current levels. Brooks Crossing, Cambridge and Indian Fields schools would each gain one classroom teacher. Brunswick Acres would gain a special education teacher and Cambridge and Indian Fields would each gain a part-time special education teacher position. Brooks Crossing and Cambridge schools would gain part-time music teacher positions. Brooks Crossing and Greenbrook Schools would each gain a part-time physical education teacher position. Crossroads North and South would each lose one regular teaching position.
South Brunswick High school would gain approximately six regular teaching positions, a physical education teacher and two special education teachers.
Spending on capital outlay equipment purchases, construction and maintenance projects is down about $1.8 million because board members decided to delay or cancel projects rather than cutting spending directly related to instruction, said school board President Harry Delgado.
"We decided if we could look for a place that we could realize savings, it would not be in areas that directly affect the students or programming," he said.
He said board members chose to defer until the 2004-2005 budget the capital projects that were to be undertaken for primarily aesthetic reasons and to lease equipment instead of buying.

