By Amber Cox, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP The tentative $35.4 million operating 2012-13 budget for the Bordentown Regional School district calls for a tax hike for all three towns in the district.
The budget was sent to the executive county superintendent after it was introduced unanimously by the Board of Education on Feb. 29.
Bordentown City could have a tax rate of $1.39 per $100 of assessed value. Homeowners assessed at the average $244,304 would pay $3,417.81 in taxes, an increase of $66.48.
Bordentown Township could have a tax rate of $1.77 per $100. Homeowners assessed at the average $239,066 would pay $4,224.30, an increase of $70.79.
Fieldsboro could have a tax rate of $1.45 per $100. Homeowners assessed at the average of $208,321 could pay $3,010.24 in taxes, an increase of $67.27.
The tentative budget does not call for any cuts in staffing, busing or full-day kindergarten.
Superintendent Constance Bauer said a number of positions have been built into the budget:
One teacher for a special needs student moving to the middle school; three part-time teachers at the secondary level to support children in the areas of basic skills or academic enrichment and support; a teacher for a new class that will need to be opened at MacFarland Intermediate School due to enrollment; two support and enrichment teachers also earmarked for MacFarland; two part-time teachers earmarked for the kindergarten through third-grade levels for academic support and enrichment; and the anticipated opening of another section at the kindergarten through third-grade level.
”All of those positions are somewhat fluid and will be based upon the needs as determined going into the late spring and summer based on the data that we receive from the departments,” Dr. Bauer said. “I do anticipate that as we get into the spring, we will be in a much better position to come back to the board and talk about where we feel these specific positions will best serve the needs of the students.”
Bordentown Regional did receive a $536,229 increase in state aid for the 2012-13 school year.
Dr. Bauer said it would be a good idea to earmark the money for any priority capital projects the board recommends following the recommendations from the architect it hired.
The Facilities Committee was set to meet March 6, and Dr. Bauer said the committee would be discussing the different options.
”We have facility needs that need to be addressed,” she said.
The next conference meeting of the board will be held March 7 and the next action meeting is March 21.
The presented budget is within the state-mandated 2 percent cap, therefore, the public will not get a vote on it. The district has moved its school board election to November.

