Final bid for budget

The school district’s $100.6 million spending plan goes to the voters Tuesday.

By: John Patten
   Voters will have the final say Tuesday on the $100.6 million budget plan for the 2007-2008 school year that bolsters elementary spelling and arithmetic classes and language and science for all grades, while adding $189 to the average property owners’ tax bill.
   "This is nothing less than our best budget," board member Judy Haas said. "All recommendations were reviewed, distilled and prioritized. This budget meets all of our goals and responsibilities."
   The budget totals $100,629,205, up 1.82 percent from last year’s $98.8 million budget, and includes $73,351,638 to be raised through local taxes, a $1,750,396 increase, 2.45 percent above last year.
   The budget would increase the tax rate from $1.905 per $100 assessed value to $1.959. The owner of a property assessed at the township average of $350,000 would see a $189 increase in the school portion of the property tax bill, from $6,667 to $6,856.
   The budget includes $354,771 to revise world language and science curricula in all grades, and money to add a new spelling program for grades three and four, and the Everyday Math program in the elementary schools.
   The district plans on hiring a part-time kindergarten teacher at Woods Road School, a middle school teacher, a high school writing center teacher and a part-time English as a Second Language teacher for the middle school. Five elementary teaching positions are eliminated in the new budget, but the teachers are expected to be moved to other positions and not terminated, according to Superintendent of Schools Karen Lake.
   At the March 26 budget hearing, board member Steve Paget touted the district’s cost-per-pupil, noting Hillsborough spends less than all nearby comparable districts, except Montgomery.
   "This budget is the smallest increase in many years," board member Steve Paget said Monday. "I want people to understand Hillsborough schools are spending money wisely."
   Voters will also fill three, three-year terms on the board, with incumbents Judy Haas, Ed Plaskon and Steve Sloan seeking re-election and newcomers Frank Blandino, John Donnadio and Greg Gillette seeking their first terms.
   The polling places are: Hillsborough Municipal Complex at 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough Elementary School at 435 Route 206, Sunnymead Elementary School at 55 Sunnymead Road, Woods Road Elementary School at 120 South Woods Road and Amsterdam Elementary School at 301 Amsterdam Drive.
   Polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.