MANVILLE: Defeated budget headed to council

By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
   With the rejection of the Board of Education’s $19,019,248 budget in the April 21 elections, Councilman Ed Komoroski announced Monday that the council’s Finance Committee will meet with the school board sometime next week to determine any changes that can be made.
   School Business Administrator Richard Reilly made a similar announcement at Monday’s Board of Education reorganization meeting.
   ”In accordance with regulations, the Borough Council and mayor were forwarded in writing (budget information) on Friday,” he said. “Usually, the finance committees of the board and borough get together (to discuss it).”
   According to Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke, the deadline for finalizing the school budget is May 19.
   ”In the past, the mayor and council and the Board of Education have worked amicably to come to a resolution,” he said.
   This is the third consecutive year that the school budget has failed.
   Basically, Mr. Garwacke said, a meeting will be held between the finance committees of both the school board and the council to discuss any changes that can be made to the budget. He said they will discuss individual line items and see where there are possibilities for making cuts.
   Once a decision has been made, Mr. Garwacke said, the council will have to pass a resolution determining how much to cut. He said he is anticipating the resolution to be on the agenda of the May 11 meeting.
   Still, Mr. Garwacke said, working through the school budget is tough, especially knowing how many people voted this year. With a little more than 600 votes cast, and only 70 votes separating the yes and no votes for the budget, he said it is harder to determine what will be best for residents.
   ”Is there a strong mandate to cut the budget?” he asked. “(Anyway), I anticipate we will be cutting.”