Princeton school budget deserves passage

Joshua Leinsdorf of the PRSD Board of Education
    I am writing to ask borough residents particularly to please vote “Yes” on the school budget. This has been a difficult year. Everyone has lost something while some have lost everything.
   The school budget was crafted with this reality in mind. The operating budget will increase only 1.68 percent. Again this year, the negligible 0.4 percent increase in the township tax rate and the sizable 3.9 percent increase in the borough’s is due to the state formula that apportions school budget share in regional districts according to relative assessed property valuations. Based on this year’s valuations and school spending alone, the borough’s school tax rate would have increased $0.03 or 1.5 percent, while the township’s would have risen $0.026, also 1.5 percent.
   Sixty percent of the borough increase is because of real estate values, not the school budget. It is like a pendulum, going back and forth. Over the past six years, the pendulum has swung in favor of the township for three and the borough for three. This is another good argument in favor of municipal consolidation.
   Prior budgets have already resulted in educational sacrifices. At a time of a globalizing world, where billions speak multiple languages, Princeton dropped German when Chinese was added to the curriculum. Certain electives, while still offered, are not offered as frequently in order to save money. One year, in an economy move, the district hired only younger teachers rather than more expensive, experienced staff. Class sizes are creeping up.
   With the school year more than half over, the economic crisis prompted the state, for the first time, to cut $250,000 of aid to the district during the current calendar year. Luckily, prudent fiscal management enabled the district to cover this unanticipated shortfall, although it will impact tax relief for next year.
   Every contemplated solution to the current economic difficulties requires high quality public education. Thank you for your support of previous budgets. Your past sacrifices are the reason Princeton has one of the best public school systems in the country.
Joshua Leinsdorf, member
Princeton Regional School District
Board of Education