No Tax Levy Increase in BOE Budget

The Barnegat Township Board of Education's preliminary 2011-12 school budget features no increase in the tax levy, as introduced at a meeting Wednesday night.

Although figures changed slightly from what was previously reported, the amount of general funds to be raised by local taxes remained the same over last year at $28,701,127.

A late addition to the budget of $649,529 from a federal education jobs fund grant that was carried over from the 2010-11 budget brought the total budget to $50,422,984. The total special revenue fund dipped to $995,000 after being previously set at $1,015,000.

Both changes are a result of federal government funding, according to Dean Allison, business administrator and board secretary.

The federal grant was originally awarded last fall, which was too late to be included in the current year’s budget.

“We were saving it for next year [2011-12]…we were worried we might need it to save jobs [in the current budget],” said Allison.

This year’s budget process was in stark contrast to last year’s, which saw 65 employees laid off. Following a 45-minute closed session, the budget was introduced with little fanfare Wednesday night. There was no public comment on the budget.

Board of Education President Lisa B. Becker said a series of public meetings will be held before the budget is officially adopted. “We have a zero-based budget this year,” Becker said after the meeting. The ratable base decreased significantly so we’re doing more with less.”