By Audrey Levine, The Packet Group
Concerns about the $13 million-plus set aside for health care for teachers and staff in the East Windsor Regional School District colored comments by residents during a public hearing Monday before the school board’s unanimous approval of the $83.2 million 2009-10 school budget.
And that expenditure could climb, acknowledged Superintendent Ron Bolandi amid ongoing contract talks.
Under the board-approved budget, East Windsor residents would pay $3.47 per $100 of assessed value or $4,640 in school taxes for a homeowner assessed at the township average of $133,719. This is an increase of slightly less than 1 cent.
However, Hightstown residents would see the equivalent of an approximate 12-cent increase, following the borough’s recent tax revaluation. The rate would rise to $1.65 per $100 of assessed value, meaning residents would pay $4,463 in school taxes on a home assessed at the borough average of $270,500.
Although only about 15 residents turned out for Monday’s hearing, many of them expressed a desire to have the costs of benefits reduced as one asked the Board of Education to “please give us a break” before the public budget vote April 21.
One resident suggested the board should be able to reduce the costs of health care to about $8 or $9 million while another questioned how the costs of benefits could increase by 8 percent when the number of employees has been reduced.
In total, a little more than $16 million has been budgeted to cover total employee benefits, including Social Security, unemployment and workers’ compensation, according to Business Administrator Kurt Stumbaugh. Of that cost, he said, a little more than $13 million has been allotted specifically for health care.
Despite questions over whether it would be possible to switch health-care providers or negotiate for lower costs, school board members declined to comment, citing ongoing negotiations prior to contracts running out June 30.
”We are in negotiations right now, and we can’t discuss this,” Board President Alice Weisman said.
Superintendent Bolandi said the outcome of the negotiations will determine if the funds will be sufficient to cover the health-care costs.
”If they cost more, we will have to readjust the budget,” he said. “If it is less, we can handle that.”
In addition, as residents continued to express their concerns over the high costs of health care and implored negotiators to understand, as one said, “we all have to give and take,” Mr. Bolandi stressed benefits and salaries are the two pieces of the budget he has no control over.
”About 75 percent of the budget is salaries and benefits, and that’s determined by unions,” he said. “The remaining 25 percent is what I control.”
Mr. Bolandi said he was able to keep the local tax levy at $54.6 million, which is almost $3.4 million less than the state-mandated 4 percent cap.
”Due to severe economic times, the budget is as close to last year’s tax levy (of $53.7 million) as possible without cutting programming,” he said. “I was asked for either no increase or a minimal one, and we accomplished that.”
The only program reductions included in the budget Mr. Bolandi said, are that of nonmandated elementary testing for grades two, nine and 10 and a reduction of two elementary Spanish teachers because of not being able to fund those positions that have been paid for by federal grants.
These cuts amount to a $25,000 reduction in the budget.
”If we get federal stimulus money, maybe we can get the two Spanish teachers back, but we can’t include that in the budget,” the superintendent said.”
Board member Susan Lloyd asked if it would even be possible to make any more cuts in the budget.
”If we asked for more reductions, they would be pretty draconian, right?” she asked.
”We are at bare bones in administration now,” Mr. Bolandi replied. “We could cut another $900,000 to stay even, and it wouldn’t affect the day to day. It would affect after-school programs.”
As far as cuts to the budget, Mr. Bolandi said they mostly are limited to not replacing retirees as well as reducing funds spent on equipment purchases and other needs outside the classrooms.
Fifteen previously announced staff reductions, most or all done through attrition, now comprise two elementary teachers, two special education teachers, one English as a Second Language teacher, one child study team member, three educational assistants, three central office administrative positions, two staff developers and one clerk. This amounts to a cut of $1.355 million from the budget.
In addition, the budget cuts $2,003,089 in supplies, equipment and miscellaneous items.
In total, the budget has increased by 3.42 percent from about $80.4 million in the 2008-09 year to the newly approved budget of $83.2 million.
Mr. Bolandi also presented a chart summarizing the district’s spending versus the other 104 districts falling into its category, based on size. The higher a district’s rank in each category on the chart, he said, the more money it spends.
For spending on classroom supplies, Mr. Bolandi said, East Windsor Regional School District ranks at 102 out of a possible 105 districts. At the other end of the spectrum, Mr. Bolandi said, the district falls in the lower half of the list for salaries and benefits for administrators, paying below the state average.
”And we will be even farther below, having cut more staff this year,” he said.
Overall, despite residents’ concerns over the high costs of salaries and benefits, many praised Mr. Bolandi and the Board of Education for making cuts and working to maintain the quality of education in the district.
”My main concern is how I am affecting your taxes,” Mr. Bolandi said. “You want low taxes, but you also want quality programs, and we have to satisfy parents and taxpayers.”

