By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — The Board of Education for Bordentown Regional School District approved submitting a proposed budget of $40 million for the 2013-14 school year to the county Superintendent of Schools at its meeting March 6.
Should the budget pass as proposed, the average homeowner in Bordentown Township would pay $4,367 in school taxes, which is about $142.53 more than last year.
In Bordentown City, the average homeowner would pay $3,613, which is about $193.79 more than last year, and in Fieldsboro, the average homeowner would pay $3,219, which is about $207.95 more than last year, according to statistics released by the board.
The estimated increase in the tax rate for Bordentown Township is 6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. For Bordentown City, the estimated tax rate increase is 8 cents, and for Fieldsboro, the increase would be 10 cents.
While the proposed budget was the topic on the floor for discussion, the board’s policy limiting public comment in the first public comment period was what everyone was talking about.
Board member Mark Drew made a motion to temporarily suspend the policy limiting the amount of time members of the public have to speak. The policy limits speakers to five minutes each with a total of 30 minutes in the first public comment period. Speakers also are permitted to comment only on agenda items.
The second public comment period allows speakers to speak for five minutes on any topic. The amount of time the public may comment in the second public comment period is unlimited.
”We have a $40 million dollar budget, and last meeting, I heard a lot of good questions,” Mr. Drew said. “I think we ought to give the taxpayers some time to speak.”
Mr. Drew’s motion did not carry.
During the first public comment period, Mike Dauber, 51, of Bordentown Township, asked the board if there were any board budget workshops held.
”The Board of Education has the option of holding workshops so everybody can get familiar with the budget,” Mr. Dauber said. “The Township Committee holds workshops before they introduce the budget.”
The answer to Mr. Dauber’s question was no.
Steve Heberling, 47, of Bordentown Township, said the 30-minute limit on speakers in the first public comment period is “a terrible policy.”
”Anybody who’s a taxpayer in Bordentown should have the right to come in here and talk with you people and give you the things they’re thinking about with respect to their schools,” Mr. Heberling said.
The board said the public may speak for an unlimited amount of time at the public hearing on the budget, which is slated for Thursday, March 21, at 7 p.m. in the library of the high school.

