By MICHAEL NUNES
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK – The East Brunswick Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to accept a tentative budget for the 2016-17 school year.
The preliminary budget, which was passed at the board’s March 17 meeting, outlines a budget totaling $146.26 million and supported by a $121.93 million tax levy.
“The budget represents the continued support for instructional programs, curriculum improvements, technology investment and a prevision for capital improvements,” said Board Business Administrator Bernardo Giuliana as he presented the budget to the board.
The school tax rate under the tentative budget is expected to increase by 11.7 cents to $6.74 per $100 of home assessment.
A home assessed at the township average of $100,000 could see taxes raise to $6,740 – an increase of $110 from the previous year, which was $6,630.
The total increase from the 2015-16 budget, which totaled $143.3 million, is backed by a $119.5 million tax levy on township property owners.
The tax levy is expected to increase by 1.75 percent, according to Giuliana.
This year the district is expecting to transfer $2.59 million in funding to the Hatikvah International Academy Charter School, up from $2.36 million the previous year. State aid increased steadily to $17.99 million from the $17.84 million in the 2015-16 budget.
Among the challenges in the budget, Giuliana said, is the increased funding that the district gives to Hatikvah.
“I calculate this to be an effective funding decrease. If we look at our charter school obligation, for which we have no choice, versus the state aid increase, we are seeing an effective reduction in resources,” Giulana said.
The public hearing for the tentative budget is scheduled for April 28. A vote for final adoption is slated for May 12.