The East Windsor Regional School District District Board of Education unanimously adopted a $96.6 million operating budget for the 2019-2020 school year at its May 6 meeting.
The $96.6 million budget represents a 5.7-percent increase over the 2018-2019 operating budget of $91.4 million.
The budget calls for raising $65.7 million in property taxes from property owners in East Windsor Township and Hightstown Borough to support the spending plan for 2019-2020. This is a $1 million increase over the 2018-2019 property tax levy.
The tax levy is split between the two towns, based on a state formula.
In East Windsor Township, the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $258,823 will pay $5,472 in school taxes, which is a $72 increase.
In Hightstown Borough, the owner of a house assessed at the borough average of $214,073 will pay $4,727 in school taxes, which is a $91 increase.
In addition to the property tax levy, other sources of income include $26.5 million in state aid; $119,786 in federal aid; and $1.8 million from surplus and reserve accounts.
Salaries account for 58.8 percent of spending and benefits amount to 18.5 percent of the budget. The salary portion of the budget declined by .01 percent and benefits went up by .14 percent.
There are plans to increase opportunities for enrichment in the fine and performing arts at the elementary and middle school level in band, strings, drama and dance.
Class sizes will be reduced at Hightstown High School in biology and TV studio classes, with the goal of maintaining average class sizes of 24 students. An additional TV studio teacher has been added, based on demand for the course.
The budget also includes money for two additional literacy coach positions – one at the grades K-2 level and one at the grades 3-5 level. The literacy coach will identify and monitor at-risk students.
The literacy coach will work with the students and their teachers to provide strategies and interventions to help students who are struggling to learn. The goal is to improve the educational outcomes of at-risk students.
And finally, the budget has money for upgraded surveillance cameras at the Grace Norton Rogers Elementary School, the Melvin H. Kreps Middle School and Hightstown High School.