But school budget projected to increase 4.3 percent.
By: Gwen Runkle
Special education was the focus Tuesday night as the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional Board of Education approved a preliminary budget for the 2003-2004 school year.
The board voted 6-1 with two abstentions to approve the draft budget for submission to the county superintendent of schools for the state Department of Education. Board member Henry Wieck cast the lone dissenting vote and board members Michelle Epstein and Dee Dee Dodson abstained.
The preliminary budget, at $123.8 million, represents a $5.1 million or 4.3-percent increase from the current year’s budget of $118.7 million.
Larry Shanok, assistant superintendent of finance and support services, said the bulk of the $5.1 million increase is due to rising costs in the areas of contractual obligations, health insurance, transportation and special education.
On Tuesday night, the board took a hard look at special education, which is increasing by about $2 million, or 18 percent, in the proposed budget.
That increase is projected despite new measures intended to rein in expenses. Originally, in the proposed budget the administration suggested implementing two programs to bring some preschool and multiply disabled students "in-house" saving the district more than $350,000 in tuition and transportation costs.
But the board, citing concerns about space and resources in the future, asked the administration to consider only beginning the preschool program this fall and possibly opening it up to more students to get the same monetary benefit as starting two programs.
The preschool program would serve about 20 students who would likely attend kindergarten in-district, but currently are placed at out-of-district preschool programs, to a new in-district class at the Millstone River Elementary School, in Plainsboro saving about $257,000.
"With the opening of the Town Center Elementary School, classroom space opened up at Millstone River," said Gerri Hutner, district spokeswoman. "We would have to hire staff for the children, but there is a significant cost reduction in terms of tuition and transportation."
The other program would have also taken place at the Millstone River School, but would have to be in a separate classroom. It would have been for about 10 fourth-and fifth-grade, low- to moderately multiply disabled or autistic children saving the district about $95,000.
"We are lagging behind many of our neighboring school districts in terms of the programs we have to offer our children," said Sue DiDonato, district supervisor of special services. "This provides us with an opportunity to better serve our students and save money."
Board members also expressed concern about the tax rate, pointing out that in a tough economic year like this, any tax increases will be felt strongly.
So far, the proposed budget carries a tax rate for West Windsor residents of $2.57 per $100 assessed property value up 5 cents from the current year’s tax rate of $2.52 per $100 assessed valuation.
At the proposed rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $240,860 would pay $6,190 in school taxes up about $120, or 2 percent, from the current year.
In Plainsboro, the tax rate would increase by 10 cents to $2.02 per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $188,000 would pay $3,798 in school taxes an increase of $188 or 5 percent from the current year.
Last year, West Windsor was hit with a 13-cent school tax increase, while Plainsboro’s tax rate went down one penny.
The school board is expected to discuss the budget further at a special meeting Thursday. A public hearing on the budget is expected to be held March 25. The school board is expected to formally adopt the budget March 27 and it will be on the ballot for public vote April 15.

