Parents back school plan

Some seniors question the proposed $119 million spending plan.

By: Melissa Hayes
   While parents at a recent PTO meeting seemed receptive to a proposed $119 million 2005-2006 school spending plan, some senior citizens are giving it mixed reviews.
   The district’s proposed budget calls for a 9 percent tax hike. If approved by voters, the budget would increase the school tax rate by 19 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, from $2.13 to $2.32. Under that rate, the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $188,600 would pay $4,375.52 in school taxes, up $358.34 from the current school year.
   Some senior citizens interviewed Wednesday at the South Brunswick Senior Center say tax increases are a burden for those living on fixed incomes. Others say that, while they don’t like the tax increase, they would vote yes because they have grandchildren attending district schools.
   Parents who spoke at a Tuesday PTO meeting said they support the budget and that voting for it is a way to support students.
   At school elections April 19, voters will be asked to approve two spending questions that account for 17.6 cents of the tax rate increase. The main budget accounts for 16.8 cents of the tax rate increase, while a second question asking voters to approve spending $657,597 for courtesy busing accounts for 0.8 cents.
   The remaining 1.4 cents of the total 19-cent tax rate hike represents debt service on a referendum previously approved by voters in December.
   The second spending question is necessary because the district’s non-mandatory transportation costs, approximately $1.1 million, did not fit under a state imposed budget cap.
   Courtesy busing includes before and after-school buses for programs such as music and athletics, and busing for students who live more than one mile away from a school, but within the two-mile state-mandated distance for required busing.
   The spending plan is 7.6 percent larger than last year’s $111 million budget.
   During a presentation on the budget Tuesday at Brunswick Acres School, PTO president Rita Migliore said parents are usually supportive of the budget.
   "We live in a district that values education and as much as I hate to see my taxes go up like any other normal working person or homeowner, everything is going up and costs are increasing for the schools as well," she said.
   Ms. Migliore said this year’s budget could be confusing because of the second question.
   "I am glad to see that they’ve made a special effort to explain to parents that those buses need to be kept. I hope that voters pass it," she said. "I realize that it’s kind of a luxury for me, but it’s so nice and it shows that we have a great music program."
   Ms. Migliore and several other PTO members will be calling registered voters in Brunswick Acres the night before the April 19 vote.
   "It’s just a reminder phone call. You’re not telling them how to vote or who to vote for and a lot of times it does jog someone’s memory," she said.
   Ms. Migliore said she has always been happy with the school district and said she will support the budget this year.
   "I’ve always been pleased with what’s been going on in South Brunswick schools and I will be voting yes for both questions," she said.
   Senior Citizens at the Senior Center Wednesday morning where not as positive about the budget, saying they are not well informed and it’s hard to pay for increased taxes on a fixed income.
   Beverly Quinn, who lives in Dayton, said she would not be voting in favor of the budget.
   "I oppose it," she said. "I almost always oppose it. It’s not going to the kids."
   Ms. Quinn said it is not always clear to her how the funds are being spent.
   Rusty Marr, a Kendall Park resident, also felt that he didn’t know enough about where spending is going.
   "The school budget goes up and up each year and our perception of the quality of education goes down, down, down every year," he said.
   Ms. Quinn and Mr. Marr both felt that they probably graduated South Brunswick High School with a better education than the youngsters today.
   "How do they justify the budget when they have no way of making the quality of education apparent?" he asked. "Unless the school district can overcome that perception, the seniors will be very upset with it."
   Mr. Marr said he did not understand how the schools measured success.
   They said it was also difficult to afford the school tax living on a fixed income.
   "We’re living on a fixed income. If we make a little more money that helps us live better, we have to pay more taxes," Ms. Quinn said. "You work for 60 years. You think something’s going to come back to you."
   Mr. Marr said it’s also hard to compete with all the new houses going up in town that are adding to the school costs by increasing enrollment.
   Ms. Quinn said she doesn’t have the option of selling her house to move into a low income senior community because those communities are so expensive. She also said she has to resort to borrowing money to pay her taxes.
   "My taxes are so bad I have a home equity line that I take money out of for that each year," she said.
   Paul Murray, a Kingston resident, was also worried about the increase.
   "It’s of concern, of course. At some point taxes get high enough it’s a tipping point. The quality of life goes down," he said.
   He said the lack of state aid to the district is "grossly unfair" and places an unfair burden on taxpayers.
   "I don’t know if people are going to vote for the budget or not," he said.
   "It’s always a tear between the fact that South Brunswick has a good education system and it’s expensive," he said.
   Meyer Ketofsky, a Kendall Park resident, agreed that voting on the budget is a difficult decision.
   "It’s a double-edged sword here, as seniors on fixed incomes, that tax increases hurt. Some of us seniors have grandchildren that are still in the schools," he said.
   Mr. Ketofsky has lived in the township for over 30 years, has a granddaughter in the school system and will have a great-grandchild starting in the district in a few years, he said.
   "I’m concerned about the school system. I know it needs to function. I know it needs the money. It’s not a case of let them have whatever they want, but it’s a case of what they need," he said. "So I would probably vote for the budget."