Tax Increase Proposed In Bernards School Budget For 2023-24

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township Board of Education presented its proposed school budget for 2023-24 on Monday night which includes a tax increase for residents.

The proposed budget of $123,941,885 for the 2023-24 school year is an increase of .31 percent over the 2022-23 budget which was $111, 739,235.

Acting Business Administrator/Board Secretary Beth Brooks presented the budget on Monday. The Board will vote on whether to approve the preliminary version at a special meeting on Monday, March 20.

Brooks noted that while the preliminary budget does include a "slight" tax increase it maintains all programs and services. Superintendent Nick Markarian also added that all staff positions will be maintained as well.

The increase in the budget could be linked to the increases in:

• Staff salaries (due to contractual obligations): $2,903,164
• Pension and Social Security: $375,196
• Tuition: $91,118
• Transportation: $1,352,327
• Police Services (SLEO III and SRO): $500,000

Salaries account for 60.2 percent of the budget, while employee benefits take up 17.1 percent, transportation takes up 6.6 percent and facilities is 7.4 percent.

Included in the budget are varsity complex renovations (which include correcting drainage and water issues) for $2.7 million and the rooftop unit replacement initiative for $661,265. The cost associated for the rooftop unit initiative only accounts for a piece of the entire project which is projected to be close to $6 million total, said Brooks.

The district has applied for a state grant to help cover 40 percent of the rooftop project. Additionally, to help keep costs down the district is drawing $552,829 from the capital reserve account, said Brooks.

Patch requested information on what the cost impact would be for the average assessed homeowner in the township. However, Brooks did not respond to Patch.

Some Board members expressed concerns with the budget.

"I am concerned that we have budgeted really tightly. There are some unknown things. We obviously got really lucky … with health benefits not increasing this year. Which is great for this year's budget but going forward I am concerned if this is sustainable without making other big cuts," said McKeon.

"I'm not in favor of raising taxes for any reason at this point," said Lawrence Rascio.

Watch the full budget presentation below (it begins around the 6-minute mark):

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