West Amwell budget would increase $100,000

The $3.67 million proposed spending tab would mean an average increase of $200 for taxpayers.

By: Linda Seida
   WEST AMWELL — The Board of Education of West Amwell Elementary School has proposed a $3.67 million budget for 2006-07, which represents an increase of more than $100,000.
   The proposed budget would mean a tax increase of about $200 for the average property owner in the township.
   Voters have the option of approving the budget at the polls April 18.
   With the state allowing schools to increase their spending cap this year by 4.04 percent, the district could have increased its spending by about $400,000, but chose not to, according to Business Administrator Richard Kilpatrick.
   The state also pulled funding for "character education," which means a $4,000 loss for West Amwell, Mr. Kilpatrick said. Despite the loss, the district will continue to offer the program because of its intrinsic value to students, according to board President Cynthia Magill.
   Character education recognizes the traits of caring, responsibility, fairness, trustworthiness, respect and citizenship. Lessons are woven throughout the school’s entire curricula. Assemblies specific to character building also are held. Once during each marking period, students who exhibit exemplary behavior are recognized.
   The increase in spending stems mainly from rising energy costs and an increase in transportation expenses that comes with a larger student body, Mr. Kilpatrick said.
   But the increase in enrollment also led to a one-time boost of almost $20,000 in state aid. State aid will be $339,651 compared to $320,366 the previous year.
   The district budgeted for an enrollment of 230 students, but the actual number of students is 250, according to Mr. Kilpatrick.
   Mrs. Magill said the district has tried to keep costs as low as possible while still maintaining programs.
   One cost-saving measure implemented this year is the sharing of the district’s half-day preschool program with Lambertville Public School.
   "I believe it is a win-win arrangement for both districts and a great example of how services can be shared at no expense to local taxpayers," said Superintendent Todd Fay.
   West Amwell, which is short on space, runs the program at LPS, whose students attend tuition-free. Five West Amwell students and three LPS students are enrolled in the program.
   Dr. Fay couldn’t give a specific dollar figure for savings to either school but said such savings could be significant.
   He said, "It saves us money because we don’t pay any rent to use the space. It saves LPS money because they don’t pay tuition to place their children in our class. Both of these costs could be significant savings. I’m not sure what rent would be for a year, temporary housing is very expensive, and tuition could be $10,000 to $15,000."
   The total proposed budget is $3,674,439. The tax levy, which is the portion of the budget raised through local taxes, would be $3,095,502.
   The general fund would account for $3,099,957; debt service would equal $137,527; and special revenue, which includes state and federal funds, would total $80,770.
   For the owner of a property assessed at the township average of $444,855, elementary school taxes will increase by about $200 for a total of $2,801 a year.
   "At a time when many districts are being forced to cut programs, combine classes and reduce staff, we have found a way to be able to continue to offer our children, in every grade, programs such as world language, art, music (and) physical education while maintaining our staff and class size," Mrs. Magill said. "By working in partnership with our parents and our community, we have been able to find ways outside of tax dollars to help fund improvements and programs. We continue to work to keep the tax impact as low as possible and the quality of education as high as possible. Our children’s success is our success; they rank in the top 10 percent achievement statewide."
   Recent cost-saving measures have included a board- and PTO-led drive to raise $25,000 for electrical upgrades and air conditioning units for each classroom, planned for this spring, and a $13,000 grant from the Lambertville Area Education Foundation that partially paid for a wireless computer cart.
   Health benefits are expected to increase by almost $48,000. Tuition reimbursement for teachers is expected to rise by almost $3,000. Other employee benefits are expected to rise by more than $51,000. Student transportation costs increased by almost $19,000.