No Tax Hike in Draft 2013-14 School Budget

The Brick Township Board of Education adopted its 2013-14 tentative school budget Thursday night. The spending plan includes no tax increase over the current school year.

The anticipated local tax levy to support the district's general fund will remain the same as in 2012-13, at $95,145,685, though debt service will decrease by about $500,000 from last year, making the final tax levy $97,657,630.

The total school budget will be $144,695,023, slightly up from $144,408,798 for 2012-13.

There are still some variables in the mix, however.

Business Administrator James Edwards said state aid figures are not due to be announced until Feb. 28. The state's input is a major factor in the budget, officials said.

"Those numbers have not been finalized for Brick yet, so that is still in the works," said board members Larry Reid. "Of course, we're all hoping we get a little bit more school aid."

There is also the issue of a declining tax base in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Reid said the county has not yet officially calculated the potential loss of tax base and the ramifications that could produce.

The final budget for the 2013-14 school year will be presented at the March 21 school board meeting, and a public hearing will be held before the board votes on the final adoption of the spending plan.

The board unanimously adopted the tentative budget Thursday.