By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
WEST AMWELL — The Township Committee and the West Amwell school board have agreed to eliminate a proposed 2-percent increase from the elementary school’s defeated budget, resulting in no tax increase for property owners.
The cut will have no impact on students, programs or staff, school district Business Administrator Donna Tolley said.
The district had asked voters last month to approve a $3,790,114 tax levy, an increase of 2 percent as allowed by the state. It would have meant an approximately $50 property tax increase for the average homeowner.
Voters shot it down, 238-215. As a result, state law gives the Township Committee the task of cutting the spending plan or reinstating it as it was presented to voters.
The decision of where to make the cuts belongs to the school district.
The board and the committee agreed to cut $72,036. The specific areas where the cuts will be instituted include $28,000 from the elimination of an instructional aide’s salary with another $10,000 from health benefits. General supplies will be cut by $26,086. Energy costs will be cut $4,500.
The Township Committee approved the cuts May 11 by resolution. The school board is scheduled to vote tonight (May 19).
The resolution explains the reasoning behind the decision to cut the budget.
It says, “Based upon a review of all data provided by the Board of Education, meetings with representatives of the Board of Education, numerous public hearings and consideration of the public need, it has been determined that the reductions set forth herein can be effectuated without a reduction in programs or negatively impacting upon the education of the students.”
The tax rate will remain at 69.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The proposed budget had asked for a tax rate of 70.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
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 signed 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.
Teachers will be contributing 1.5 percent to the cost of their health insurance coverage, a new state requirement.

