By: centraljersey.com
WEST AMWELL – The West Amwell Township Elementary School Board of Education has proposed a budget that would raise the tax levy by 2 percent.
The spending plan of $4,286,956, which includes debt service, calls for no major changes to programs or staffing. There will be no cuts, nor will there be any additions, according to Business Administrator Donna Tolley.
The proposed spending plan would increase the property tax bill for the average homeowner by about $50.
"It is important that the community understands that we have very little control over a good portion of the budget," board President Robert Tomenchok said. "Most of our budget is driven by contracts and mandates. For those items over which we have control, we exercise prudent restraint."
He added, "The board and administration have worked diligently to ensure that every dollar we spend is done with the idea that the children will realize the maximum benefit. From little things like getting a better buy on floor wax to sharing staff and our superintendent, we get the idea. In spite of ever-increasing federal and state mandates and steadily decreasing funding, we have managed to maintain the core of our educational program."
The school plans three capital projects for a total cost of about $150,000. One of the projects calls for the repair of the heating and air-conditioning system in the main office. It’s been broken for about a year, and the cost of repairing it is estimated at about $20,000.
Another project consists of installing student cubbies in classrooms for grades one through three. Last year, students in grades four to six received the new cubbies in their wing of the building. The school also continues to plan for music and art classroom trailers.
In 2011-12, teachers will receive a contracted 3.01 pay increase in the final year of a three-year agreement.
The school district and the teachers inked the deal late in the 2009-10 school year, retroactive to July 1, 2009 and running through June 30, 2012. The settlement was reached with the assistance of a state-appointed fact-finder.
As in other districts across the state, teachers will be contributing 1.5 percent to the cost of their health insurance coverage, a new state requirement.
The tax levy, the amount raised through local taxation, would be $3,790,114.
With a proposed tax rate of 70.4 cents per $100 of assessed property value, the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $456,213 would pay $3,211.74.
Last year, when the tax rate was 69.3 cents per $100 of assessed property value and the average assessment was $456,281, the average homeowner paid $3,162.03.
Also, enrollment is expected to remain at 261.
MR. TOMENCHOK pointed out two initiatives the school is undertaking with the expectation of saving money in the future.
First is the school’s participation in the South Hunterdon Renewable Energy Cooperative, along with Lambertville Public School, South Hunterdon Regional High School, the city of Lambertville, West Amwell Township and the Lambertville Municipal Utilities Authority. At no cost to taxpayers, Swan Creek Energy will install solar panels at the school this spring to generate approximately 100 kilowatts. The school agreed to purchase power at a savings of about 50 percent savings over its current cost, Mr. Tomenchok said.
Second, he said, West Amwell, along with South Hunterdon, LPS and the Stockton Borough School, is hoping to take a look at regionalizing as one k-12 district.
"The four independent boards of education feel very strongly that our communities should consider regionalizing into a single K-12 district," he said. "To progress beyond the sound bite stage, we must undertake a feasibility study."
Voters are being asked to approve the study at a maximum cost of $50,000. The referendum will be a ballot question for South Hunterdon, but it will affect all four districts.
"The intent of the study is to provide an analysis of the current situation, to illustrate potential configurations for a new district, and most importantly provide the information that the boards and citizens need to make an informed decision."

