BOE Adopts Tentative Budget With No Tax Hike
Tax rate will remain the same as last year, officials say
The township Board of Education unanimously adopted a tentative 2012-13 school year budget Monday night that will not raise taxes on residents.
The budget, including debt services, totals $144,443,846. Of that amount, taxpayers will fund a portion that adds up to $97,640,346.
Last year, the local tax levy was $99,296,325.
"It's more in line with what we had in mind," said board member Larry Reid, referring to the updated spending plan.
Last week, the board instructed district administrators to go back to the drawing board after they proposed a budget that would have raised taxes nearly to the top of the state's 2 percent expenditure cap.
Under the revised budget, which will now go to the Ocean County Executive Superintendent of Schools for final approval, a $490,000 staff development evaluation program was cut, as well as a technology coach, a social worker and an English Language Learner teacher.
One item, student activity insurance, was added the budget. The insurance, which acts as a secondary health policy for students who participate in after-school sports, will cost $310,000.
Assuming the budget is approved by the county superintendent, there will be no referendum on the budget's tax levy this year since it is within the state's cap.
Oscar Wilde
8:03 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
of course it would be against all common sense to actually LOWER the budgets everywhere ......
Allan
8:09 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
thanks guys - now maybe I can eat some meat next year !
Seen Enough
8:15 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I have to congratulate the Board on holding the line. Not being sarcastic here but in the real world budgets are actually being cut. Don't understand why a small decrease could not have been achieved with a little extra work. Would have been a great PR move but...
Seen Enough
8:22 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Dan, do you know if there was anything in the budget for repairing the bleachers at Brick High School?
Daniel Nee
9:40 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The board actually set aside some funding for that earlier this year. So that will be repaired out of the current budget. I'll ask about the progress next BOE meeting and give everyone an update.
Reality
8:52 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Dan - After reading this article, I went to the District website. I cannot find the proposed budget on there. Did the BOE and/or BA say when the public can expect to see it? Thanks.
Jim
11:10 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Since when is the BOE our masters? We desperately need to change the school funding formula.
joseph
1:22 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I agree that the present formula is flawed. Until a new formula is put in place the property tax will fund the schools and the town.
I am happy that this BOE did not raise the taxes this coming year and they are making improvements in the schools(long overdue) and have added a new Math program and not cut any programs for the students. Don't forget the BOE earlier this year gave back to the Tax payers about 1.5 million dollars that was received from the state which reduced you taxes. Seems to this tax payer that the New Board has certainly done more with less and that is something not seen in some time. Thank You BOE, hopefully the Mayor and Council can do the same???
Daniel Nee
5:21 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Jim -- We did a story a while back about one of the proposals on the table for an overhaul of the funding formula. It's Sen. Matt Doherty's plan known as "Fair School Funding."
Having covered this stuff for a few years now, however, the question is whether the present state Supreme Court would throw it out – or if Democrats and Republicans would ever agree on the details.
http://brick.patch.com/articles/brick-could-receive-40m-in-aid-under-senators-plan
bonnie
5:23 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I would love to pay an extra 10% if they would hire people for BMHS that actually care about the kids instead of waiting to put in their 20 years and then retire. The school is in sad sad shape. From the principal to his vice they know nothing nor do they care. Raise my taxes and get new blood in there.
NJ resident
8:06 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
20 years and then retire? Not with a pension or benefits.
gerard flynn
8:42 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
After school insurance for kids playing sports at the sum of 310,000.00 are you for real // If the parents cant cover them as parents then why are they playing, sounds like another hand is in some ones pocket again.
Seen Enough
11:39 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Talty care to repsond? Do you have the onions to respond?
John C
9:10 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The current BOE President and majority is doing a great job controlling costs. Too bad the boards of the past let spending go out of control and did no maintenance on the buildings. We need to make sure that no one that is supported by those past inept boards gets a seat in any upcoming election.
NJ resident
9:45 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
And is the current BOE Presidet helping to at least keep up the maintenance on the buildings? Spending would not be out of control if it was withing the 2% cap - AND we could have included needed maintenance. By not including the maintenance, we are kicking the can down the road.(AGAIN) Talk about an inept board - you are looking at the one sitting there right now. I would so much rather an affordable 2% cap as per our governor than a much larger necessary increase in the future. At least the governor considers that the buildings need repair and upkeep. I so wish I could sell my home and break even.
John C
10:35 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
NJ Resident the damage was already done in the 1990s and early 2000s. The current president is trying to control costs and stem the decay while trying to piece together a workable plan
joseph
3:23 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
NJ resident, I would suggest you and Seen Enough come to some BOE meetings and than you could get up there with those you criticize and ask them FACE to FACE you issues and their reasoning for the decisions they made.
As I see it this BOE is doing more Maintenance on the buildings and trying to keep the total compensation to very respectable levels. The tax increases have been very low last year the first year this board was together and even lower this year and all you can do is complain that they came in with a 0% increase, are you serious. As I observe this BOE, they are doing many of the things they said they would.
By the way this Thursday night I think they have The monthly BOE meeting, hope to see you there?
NJ resident
7:43 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Joseph - my mouth would get me in trouble. As it is, I scream at the tv when the BOE meetings are on. I see every one of them. I also see a community not interested in the upkeep of the buildings, and a very cheap BA.I do not think a 2% increase is out of line because the schools are in bad shape. I have to maintain my home to a certain standard, and can not understand why the BOE is kicking the can down the road on this. We will have to pay for it sooner or later. I would prefer not to pay when I have to take a huge loss on the sale of my home. Who would want to buy in a community with improperly maintained schools? .