By Allison Musante, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR-PLAINSBORO After the voters defeated the school district’s $158.5 million budget last month, the West Windsor Township Council and the Plainsboro Township Committee have approved a new budget with $503,000 in spending cuts.
Because the school district is regional, state law required the townships to review the budget and agree on a tax levy. Assisted by the Board of Education and the administration, Superintendent Victoria Kniewel gave a presentation to both governing bodies this week, where she proposed recommendations for cuts.
Since both bodies agreed with her suggestions, the board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday night to vote on the new tax levy of $139,524,454.
Though not set in stone, Superintendent Kniewel said the two major cuts would likely be a $235,000 reduction to non-personnel expenses, including teaching and media center supplies and a $108,000 reduction to capital expenses, including technology purchases and carpeting. In addition, she proposed cutting $50,000 from support staff, by cutting a cafeteria aide, $30,000 from co-curricular activities, and $80,000 from cutting a guidance counselor position and restructuring the department.
”We wanted to stay as far from the classroom as possible,” she said. “We heard that in the community forum and we tried to honor that directive.”
Both councils said they respected the voters’ voice, but they did not want the quality of education to suffer. West Windsor voters defeated the budget, 1,120-992, whereas Plainsboro voters passed it, 521-481. The budget, which asked voters to approve a $140,027,454 tax levy, was struck down by 88 votes overall.
Council and committee members’ questions circled around the charter school allocation, surplus and staff contract negotiations as possible sources of cutting.
Larry Shanok, assistant superintendent of finance, explained the district cannot touch the surplus for tax relief. While the general fund balance at the end of last fiscal year was $20 million, the district has about $11 million in surplus. About $8 million is used for tax relief in the current year and $3 million will be used for tax relief in the upcoming year. The remaining funds are allocated for specific purposes, such as paying bills and capital reserves.
The $950,000 allocation to the Princeton International Academy Charter School is state-mandated, Mr. Shanok explained, should enrollment reach a minimum of 79 students from the district.
”We’re here ironically because of the voters on this budget, but voters will not have a say on the charter school,” he said.
If the charter school does not open in the fall as expected, that allocation would go towards the surplus for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
Councilman George Borek said he hoped a newly proposed health care reform bill, requiring all public employees to start paying 30 percent of their health care, could help future budgets.
Councilman Charles Morgan was the only person to vote against the recommendations. He asked the district to gather data on what he called “free riders,” young families who move into the towns to take advantage of the schools and then leave upon high school graduation.
”These folks are putting up our property taxes on our dime,” he said. “We have a legal problem addressing it.”
Plainsboro Committee members expressed that their own children were well served by the school district but felt that cuts should be made.
Deputy Mayor Neil Lewis said this was his third time seeing the budget defeated in his 28 years, but while the size of the district has grown, the quality of education has been consistently excellent.
Mayor Peter Cantu said the public raised a few red flags for future consideration, such as the need for stronger contract negotiations.
Residents at both meetings had mixed opinions.
Bob Murray said “like it or not, we defeated the budget. It’s your responsibility to cut it in some way.”
Rebecca Esmi said if taxes become exorbitant, it could keep families away from the district and diminish property values.
Doug Larkin did not wish to see any cuts, claiming that, “we live in a time when public education is under attack.”

