Nutley School Board Budget Raises Taxes

The tentative Nutley 2013-2013 school budget would raise taxes $57.19 for a home assessed at the township average of $314,800, according to school officials.

On Wednesday, Yeamans said the $64,051,871 spending plan fits under the 2 percent cap on increased spending, or about $900,000.

"The cap puts pressure on the school district to really hone in on what we are spending," she said. "We really have to look at everything very carefully."

Last year's average tax increase was $38.72, Yeamans said. 

The board will hold a public hearing on the budget on March 25 at 6:30 p.m. at John H. Walker Middle School in the band room.

Yeamans said the budget was revised to reflect savings from refinanced bonds.

"We have to look at the school community's goals, and look efficiently at every dollar," she said.

The district will receive $6,921,852 in K-12 total aid for 2013-2014, which is a . Superintendent of Schools Russell Lazovick said that the state aid number is built into the budget assuming flat funding, so the district is prepared.

Like a large number of state school districts, Nutley's state aid was reduced in 2010, with township schools receiving about a third less from the state than in 2009.

In 2011, Nutley schools received a 10.2-percent increase from 6,282,953 to 6,921,851.

Under state tax law, the budget approval vote by citizens has been eliminated unless expenditures exceed the state-mandated 2 percent maximum, and Yeamans said the Nutley budget does not exceed that cap.

Voters will elect county, state and school officials in November, since Nutley opted to move school elections starting in 2012.