Princeton school board OKs budget

Spending plan means tax hike in borough and township

By: Courtney Gross
   The Princeton Regional Board of Education unanimously approved the school preliminary budget Monday that will increase Princeton Borough and Princeton Township’s current school tax rates by 16 cents and 10 cents per $100 of assessed value respectively.
   Subject to approval by the Mercer County superintendent of schools, the board will hold a public hearing on the budget on March 27 at 8 p.m. and it will be sent to voters for approval on April 17.
   "I think we’ve done very well in balancing our programs and expenditures," Vice President Alan Hegedus said. But referring to legislation under consideration in Trenton to reduce property taxes, Mr. Hegedus said the board could be looking at a much more "hostile" environment next year.
   The average borough taxpayer, based on a home assessed at $348,413, would pay $6,585 — 9 percent more than the 2006-2007 school year. The 16-cent tax rate hike would require residents to pay $1.89 per $100 of assessed value. This would result in an average increase of $557.
   For township residents, tax bills could increase at an average of $525 to $7,360 based on an average home assessed this year at $427,900. The tax rate could increase 10 cents to $1.72 per $100 of assessed valuation, based on the proposed budget.
   The entire budget is over $76 million, while the tax levy budget has been proposed at just over $56 million. Superintendent Judy Wilson said the tax levy budget increased just by 2.29 percent — the lowest hike since the 2001-2002 school year.
   The general fund budget, which covers the district’s operating costs, is set at $68.55 million. The monetary difference between the entire budget and the general fund includes debt service and revenues, such as state aid.
   The proposed budget does not include a program expansion, Ms. Wilson said, but takes the district into a phase of post-expansion. No programs have been cut, but because of financial constraints the district has frozen all administrative positions and did not consider any program proposals from administrative staff for the 2007-2008 school year.
   The proposed budget does include staff support for the new performing arts center, maintenance at the Princeton High School and approximately four additional faculty members.
   Although the school budget increases from year to year have been decreasing since 2001, some Princeton residents are still concerned over the tax and spending hikes in general.
   Dale Meade, a 33-year resident of Princeton whose children attended schools within the district, said he understands it is difficult to control budgets, but it is certainly possible.
   "I am what you may call a concerned taxpayer," Mr. Meade said at Monday’s board meeting.
   Several board members and Ms. Wilson said they are continually restrained by the state legislature, and most called the state’s recent efforts to reform property taxes as a setback to real relief and public education.
   "We’re a wholly-owned subsidiary of the state legislature and the Department of Education," board member Joshua Leinsdorf said.
   Beyond this year, board members said they would continue to attempt to keep the level of academic excellence up in the Princeton Regional School District while recognizing the financial pressure.