Schools

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.

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"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.

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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.


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