By Stephanie Vaccao, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY The school administration has submitted a $77.7 million budget proposal for next year to the school board that represents a decrease of $1 million from the current budget.
Some of the challenges facing the district include the uncertainty of state aid, containing the increases in the cost of medical insurance and the difficult economic times, according to a document accompanying the proposal.
There was a substantial increase in health care costs. The district’s insurance broker estimated that by July 1 dental costs would increase 15 percent, prescriptions 15 percent and medical 14 percent.
There are no proposed reductions to administration because reductions resulting in approximately $500,000 were made the previous year. Those positions will not be restored for the 2011-2012 year.
One feature of the proposal is the move to triple-tier busing, which would save approximately $700,000. However, it would shift the start and end times to the following: Montgomery High School from 7:20 to 2:05; Upper and Lower Middle schools from 8:08 to 2:55; and Village and Orchard Hill Elementary schools from 9:30 to 3:50.
In other areas of the budget:
The high school is implementing a block schedule, which benefits the district and students through collaborative learning teams and support of strategic goals and strategies.
Student activity fees for the Upper Middle clubs and Montgomery High clubs and athletics will be increased from $100 per student to $125 to maintain existing programs.
Student parking fees will remain at $200 per year and spaces will be offered to the junior class.
Building use rental fees will be implemented for users who currently do not pay rent due to policy eligibility where the fee will be based upon the number of registrations in the program using the facility to increase revenue to maintain existing programs.
No additional outsourcing of services is included in the budget owing to greater savings achieved from employee concessions. However, transportation services are still under review.
The high school constructions referendum will be closed out owing to the litigation being settled, which will result in a substantial reduction in the amount of local taxes that would have been required to pay off debt since unspent bond proceeds will be used to help pay the debt.
The budget proposal anticipates that formula state aid will remain flat, but other state aid expected for extraordinary aid and Ed Jobs Fund aid will result in an increase of $125,935 in the general fund. The total spending in the general fund is lower than the 2010-2011 budget by $376,835 or 0.54 percent.
The projected tax increase for residents based upon the average assessment will increase though spending is reduced owing to the reduction in the use of district surplus. For Montgomery, it might mean an increase of $174.
Among the program reductions included: study skills at the Upper Middle School; not adding back the 1st and 2nd grade Spanish teachers; and various positions that are driven by reductions in enrollment.
Initiatives in the budget include online learning through an Internet-based program called “Compass Learning/Odyssey.”
The annual school board election and budget approval will be Wednesday, April 27, at the Princeton Elks Club in Skillman; the Montgomery Evangelical Free Church in Belle Mead; and the Rocky Hill Borough Hall. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more details regarding the budget proposal, see the district website at www.mtsd.k12.nj.us.
