David Kilby

By: centraljersey.com
MONROE – The Monroe School District plans to increase its budget by $1.63 million this year.
The Board of Education introduced its preliminary budget to the public at its meeting March 3.
If approved, the total budget for the 2011-12 school year would be $103,080,284, or $1.63 million more than last year. The amount to be raised by taxation would be $90,745,540.
This is a preliminary budget and not what taxpayers will vote upon, district officials said, adding they are revising the budget.
Voters will vote on the final budget April 27. They also will vote for board members and on a second ballot question regarding funding for full-day kindergarten.
The tax rate for the school district was approved at $2.21 per $100 of assessed valuation for this year’s budget. The owner of a house assessed at the average of $175,000 paid $3,867 in taxes this year.
Taxes could increase $336 per year with the preliminary budget as is, but the board plans to hold a special meeting Tuesday, March 15, to discuss the tax rate.
"We are revising our budget due to a tuition matter with a receiving district, (Jamesburg) and it would be irresponsible to print a number currently being revised," said Michael Gorski, school business administrator.
Mr. Gorski also said the amount full-day kindergarten would cost has not yet been determined.
Within the total preliminary budget, $29,173,973 would be for regular programs and instruction; $7,127,734 for special education; $3,444,319 for tuition; $1.6 million for the guidance department; $2,445,255 for student services; $1,363,100 for curriculum; $1,467,656 for general administration; $3,522,478 for school administration; $8,726,049 for plant operations and maintenance; $5,350,092 for transportation; $18,804,777 for personal services, most of which would go to employee benefits; and $10,449,043 for debt service, most of which would go toward repaying bonds for the new high school.
New teachers for the schools would account for $608,503 of the 2011-12 regular programs and instructions costs. That includes new teachers for culinary arts, chemistry and technology for the new middle school – which will be the old high school – and six new world language teachers and a chemistry teacher at the new high school.
New custodial services and building management for the new high school and costs for asbestos removal as well as new tile, lighting and painting at Applegarth School would account for $514,763 of the new budget.
A tentative budget was presented to the board at a retreat it had the Saturday before the meeting. The budget presented at the retreat was $103,681,360.
But the administration cut $601, 076 from textbooks and supplies, benefits and the science program before the meeting March 3. Board members Mark Klein and Kathy Leonard did not like the fact the budget was changed during the week.
"I will vote no … " Ms. Leonard said, "due to the fact that it was changed without the consultation of the board."
"If the budget goes down, we have the option of cutting these programs," said Marvin Braverman, board vice president. "By cutting these programs (now), I don’t think we’re benefiting anyone."
Despite saying this, Mr. Braverman still voted for the budget.
"All we’re doing is saying to Trenton that we can make these cuts and still be successful," Mr. Klein said.
Mr. Klein and John Leary, another board member, expressed their anger about the amount of state aid the Monroe School District would receive next year. The district would receive $1,995,415 in state aid, $668,725 of which would be put toward debt service.
That equates to about $238 per student. Mr. Klein said districts similar in size to Monroe are getting much more. Old Bridge received about $4,600 per student in state aid, Plainfield received about $2,800 per student, and New Brunswick, an Abbot (low-income) district, received about $26,000, Mr. Klein said.
"We need help from the residents," Mr. Klein said in regard to filing a lawsuit regarding the amount of state aid Monroe school district receives.
It is his hope residents get the word out.
"Until Trenton and legislators put a priority on education, we’re going to be in this situation for a long time," said Ira Tessler, board member.
"We’re doing what we can to put things in the budget that we absolutely have to have," said Lew Kaufman, board president. "I will never apologize for having an above adequate school district. If you vote and support the budget, we can move forward. If you don’t, you’re not in control of your own destiny."
He explained if the budget gets voted down, the district would no longer have the final say on what it can spend next year. The Township Council would have to decide whether to cut the budget or keep it as is. Technically, it also can increase spending, but that rarely happens.
If the board disagrees with the council, it can appeal to the state.
There will be a public hearing on the budget at the next board meeting March 23.