by Elaine Leahy, Special Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — The school board this week gave preliminary approval to a 2009-2010 budget of $38.6 million that would likely carry a school tax rate hike of about 5 cents per $100 of assessed property value, or $187 for the average taxpayer.
That budget figure includes a general fund of $33.8 million and a debt service fund of $4.4 million.
A public hearing and final adoption of the budget is scheduled for March 31, after which voters will have their say April 21 on the tax levy needed to support the budget.
Superintendent John Szabo said at Monday’s board meeting that the tax figure is not finalized, and the definitive proposed rate will be announced at the next board meeting, Tuesday.
Based on an average assessment of $375,000, the school tax bill would rise about 4 percent from $4,500 to $4,687.
The budget provides for 16 new full-time staff members, while cutting about two positions.
The Board of Education approved the spending plan at a special meeting Monday, which came within a few days of receiving notice that the district would receive a 5 percent increase in state aid, for a total of $2.9 million. However, Dr. Szabo said, the district also received a reduction in debt service aid, for a net gain of only $26,000 over last year.
The budget calls for some cuts and the most controversial item on the chopping block is the Air Force Junior ROTC.
While most townspeople who spoke at the meeting blamed the school board for the potential ROTC and other program cuts, several members of the board attributed it to the state and its lack of funding.
”It’s the same old song, different day,” said board member Sharon DeVito.
Several board members expressed disbelief and annoyance that Millstone, an equivalent “I” school district based on socio-economic factors, received significantly more in state aid.
”We get treated less fairly than everyone else,” said board member Carol Boyne.
However, figures from the state Department of Education indicate that Millstone is receiving the same amount of state aid for 2009-2010.
Betty Alfano, a 15-year resident, said the board is to blame for the budget shortfalls.
”When it comes right down to it, it’s always the taxpayer who has to foot the bill and we cannot be squeezed any more in this community,” she said. “This budget is out of line and it needs to go back to the drawing board.”
Dr. Szabo said the district received a letter from the Air Force stating that the district is on probation due to low enrollment in the ROTC program. The letter stated that if enrollment figures do not improve, the program would be discontinued as of June 30, 2010, according to the superintendent.
The program has 22 students enrolled, and the Air Force recommends that 10 percent of the student body participate to make a viable program. Robbinsville High School has roughly 700 students.
A few members of the community attributed low enrollment to the fact that for the past few years the board has questioned the future of the program. They contend that if students are told an organization might be discontinued, they will be less likely to join.
Regarding the possible ROTC elimination, Dr. Szabo said it is not a decision he and the school board are making lightly and he is reaching out to the Air Force to see if it might still agree to continue the program.
Two full-time ROTC instructors are paid with a combination of Air Force and school district funding. Business Administrator Louise Davis said Tuesday that the district was in the process of trying to verify the exact funding breakdown.
Dr. Szabo also said he has contacted a nearby program in the Jackson school district to determine if it would accept some of Robbinsville’s students. If this were to occur, it would mean they’d be full-time students at one of the Jackson high schools.
Windsor resident Kim Johnson, whose son is graduating from the program this year, claimed that if the Jackson plan were carried out, it would cost the Robbinsville district more due to tuition and transportation than if the program were simply continued in Robbinsville.
Dr. Szabo said the district is working hard to find a way for the students enrolled in the program to continue until they graduate high school.
”No one wants to see the program go away,” said Ms. Boyne. But she said cap limitations and legal obligations have left them with few options.
Ms. Johnson and several other speakers from the community said the program teaches the students dedication, commitment, responsibility and leadership. Student members of the ROTC also spoke about their positive experiences in the program, with one female student saying she earned a $60,000 college scholarship as a result of her participation.
In response to one student speaker’s accusation that the ROTC is being unfairly targeted, Ms. DeVito noted that last year elective classes with less than 10 students were cut, as were some clubs.
Also on the chopping block under the new budget is a K-8 world language program, which would see reduced hours of instruction.
Vic Monaco contributed to this story.

