By: Rebecca Weltmann
WASHINGTON After several extra school budget workshop sessions, and a budget process that the school board president has characterized as downright ugly, the Washington Township Board of Education voted unanimously to approve its proposed $30.8 million school budget on March 29.
Action was not taken at the public hearing held two days prior to the March 29 vote because Business Administrator Bill Takacs was absent.
Washington voters will now be asked on April 17 to approve a $30.8 million budget with a $16 million tax levy that is approximately 13.2 percent greater than last year’s. This budget would increase the school tax rate from about $2.78 per $100 of assessed value to $3.14 per $100 of assessed value. This rate includes the general fund as well as the debt service. In essence, for every $100,000 of assessed of last year’s assessed property value, homeowners would pay about $3,140.
While Washington Township is still waiting for final figures on what the new average house will be assessed from the revaluation process, the current average house assessed in the township is expected to increase from $169,000 to about $450,000.
Using last year’s old assessment numbers, the owner of a house assessed at $169,000 would pay approximately $5,306 about $2,166 more.
In order to save money, the district has cut several programs, such as plans for a Chinese language and culture program. There may be an opportunity for a program in the future, added Superintendent Jack Szabo. According to Dr. Szabo, the major drive in the increase to the budget is enrollment. According to the school board presentation at the March 27 public hearing, the enrollment for the district in 2006-07 was 2,432 students. In 2007-08, that number is expected to increase to 2,717 a 12 percent jump in enrollment.
"The reality is that we’re still spending less per student than other schools in our district factor group," Dr. Szabo said, referring to a system that classifies districts of similar size and socio-economic status. "And just so we’re all clear, there’s not one new administration position in this budget. We have increased programs, but not the number of administrators. We have no supervisors and no new vice principals. Eventually, we are going to need to create a larger administrative infrastructure. We cannot continue to maintain the level of education our community wants us to maintain without supervisors in the district for subjects like math, science and English."
In order to assure not only the public, but also themselves that the budget was accurate for next year, Dr. Szabo said the administration handed over the budget to auditor Ralph Picone of Dickinson, Vrabel and Cassells. While the auditor is still perusing the current year’s budget, Dr. Szabo said Mr. Picone found the 2007-08 budget to show evidence of "notable growth and accuracy."
"This has been a really difficult budget process and while there have been issues and concerns all through the process, I’m comfortable that this budget addresses the best interests of the district," said board member Michele Siekerka. "We made sure we asked all the right questions and held everyone to the correct accountability. We’ve all been through the budget line by line and I’m very comfortable with the way the budget is at this moment."
Many of the board members echoed her sentiments. Superintendent Jack Szabo said the budget addresses three main goals of the district.
"We were looking to maintain class size as per policy, maintain a full-day kindergarten and maintain our existing programs," he said. "What we are trying to do is to provide an outstanding learning experience in an environment that is safe and conducive to learning and to accomplish this in a manner that is fiscally responsible but sensitive to the needs of our students."
