EDITORIAL: State’s miscalulations years ago is insulated Manville schools from problematic cuts
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It’s said that what goes around, comes around and it appears it’s true at least for the Manville school district.
When the district was in the midst of a five-year string of budget defeats at the polls a time when spending in the schools dropped to among the lowest in the state a miscalculation in state aid was discovered.
That miscalculation resulted in a $1 million debt to the state, further compounding the district’s financial problems.
Thanks to several years of diligent effort, careful planning and taxpayer support at the polls, Manville schools are doing quite nicely, thank you, and the future was taking on a definite rosy hue.
Then a new state law intended to lower property taxes by limiting school spending called S-1701 went into effect, and one could almost hear school superintendents across the state ripping their hair out.
Well, one could almost hear their screams, anyway.
But for once, fate smiled on Manville and its dealings with the state.
The district finished paying back the state this year, and so, is insulated from the full effect of the new budget law for this year.
S-1701 limits budget changes for schools by allowing a small increase in the budget based on this year’s spending. Since Manville had $139,000 in this year’s budget for the final payment to the state, next year’s budget can include that amount for other school needs.
And from the looks of things, that may be enough as we reported last week, there are multiple bills before the state legislature to modify S-1701, several of which appear to be moving forward.
But they haven’t passed yet, and no one can be assured any will before voters head to the polls in April to approve school budgets.
So, as many districts in New Jersey are going to be forced to chop programs, activities and personnel in order to meet the state requirements, Manville is in relatively good shape.
And that’s thanks to the state even if it’s by mistake.

