Metuchen introduces school budget

BY ENID WEISS Correspondent

The Metuchen Board of Education officially introduced its $30.7 million budget for 2009-10 during its March 17 meeting.

The budget reflects a 3.8 percent tax increase of $1.023 million over this year’s $27.17 tax levy and a total increase of 3.2 percent or $1.236 over the current year’s $29.5 million budget. This year’s budget was up from the 2007-08 budget of $28.4 million. The 2009-10 budget reflects an $80,000 drop in state aid from $1.834 million to $1.754 million.

It means a Metuchen home with the average assessed value of $186,600 will see a 3.2 percent increase in taxes to $5,390 for the year or roughly a $167 increase over the current year’s taxes at $5,224. School officials estimate it to cost the average homeowner $2.89 per tax point, which is a 9 cent increase per tax point.

The district’s ratable increases a total of $6 million, said Michael Harvier, the district’s business administrator, which means the tax increase is not as high per household as it could be.

District officials said they took the sagging economy and the state’s financial woes into consideration and budgeted state aid numbers “very conservatively” at $40,000.

The total $30,744,990 budget includes $28,194,381 raised from the local tax levy. Spending includes $49,498,382 on the general fund, which pays for the bulk of school operations; $944,551 to be spent on a special revenue fund (funds from grants earmarked for specific purpose); and $2,717,740 to be spent on debt service (principal and interest on old referendums).

Increases came in several budget categories, including salary raises in accordance with contractual obligations, increased transportation costs, increases in transportation and both in district and out-of-district special education. Special education spending is mandated by state and federal laws.

As school board member Fran Brennan said, “If our budget does not pass, teacher salaries do not get cut and special education will still be paid for. It is other programs that would end up being cut.”

Currently the board is in the last year of a three-year contract with the teachers union. Teacher salaries total roughly $14.9 million, according to Harvier.

Nearly $300,000 of the budget will go toward capital improvements, including replacing parts of the roof at Moss and Campbell elementary schools, replacing the windows at Campbell and doors at Edgar Middle School. The projects actually cost the district $704,992 with $281,996 of that coming from anticipated grant funds. Only some of the windows will be replaced at Campbell, which is why the fully budgeted amount of the improvement projects at $704,992 was not allocated, Harvier explained.

Board member Ben Small said the board has the flexibility to make cuts to various school programs, utility costs, supplies and a few other areas. Approximately 74 percent of the budget includes fixed contractual salaries, he said.

Residents may voice their comments and questions about the budget during a March 31 public hearing and will vote on the budget during the April 21 school election.