Voters on April 16 may face three questions on school budget issues in addition to the annual school tax levy question.
By:Eric Schwarz
The Board of Education on Tuesday discussed adding a referendum question for four projects throughout the district that would cost an estimated $1.5 million.
The falling debt service from previous loans the school district is paying off will allow the board to keep costs constant, said Dorothy Bradley, chairwoman of the board’s finance and facilities committee.
The four projects in the bond referendum would be replacing the roof at Weston School, replacing windows in the district’s four schools, repairing the ventilation system at Roosevelt School, and replacing bleachers in the Manville High School gym.
"We are trying to address specific priority things that need to be done," said Ms. Bradley. "Certainly we have a lot more facilities issues than those four."
"The taxpayers should not see more taxes with the referendum portion," Ms. Bradley said.
However, she said the tax difference, if any, has not been determined for the regular budget and the additional questions on work at Roosevelt and Weston schools.
The bond, if approved in the referendum, would cover 60 percent of the cost of several projects but not raise taxes, Ms. Bradley said.
The district would replace old debt with the new debt, she said.
The other 40 percent would be funded by the state Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, if approved by state Education Commissioner David C. Hespe.
Gov. Christie Whitman on July 18 signed the law providing up to $8.6 billion for school construction projects, with $6 billion for the 30 poorest, "special needs" districts.
The two additional questions up for approval would be for items outside the usual budget: improvements to the parking and playground area at Roosevelt School, for about $70,000; and replacement of playground equipment at Weston School, for a cost to be determined.
Those projects would not be eligible for funding under the state construction money, Ms. Bradley said.
At Roosevelt School, the tentative plans would be "a solution to multiple issues," Ms. Bradley said.
The district is looking at fencing in 60 percent of a blacktop lot and creating a basketball court and a grassy area with a back stop for kickball. The other 40 percent of the area would be used to install parking spaces, she said.
"The (current) blacktop is safe for the children, but it is not optimal," she said.
At Weston School, numerous parents have asked about getting new equipment, and the board wants to ask the public to approve the equipment, so that it is not subject to budget cuts if the overall tax levy fails to win voter approval.
The board Tuesday approved spending $36,000 plus reimbursable costs to Nam Kim Park Architects of Woodbridge and $4,000 to Public Financial Management of Hamilton, for the bond referendum costs.
Speaking of the potential budget questions on the playgrounds, Ms. Bradley said, "The budget managers have been asked to consider it with their other budget requests. Those are ideas on the table; they are not cast in concrete."
Ms. Bradley cautioned that the finance and facilities questions are only one part of the budget, and that curriculum and personnel issues also will be considered.