Brick School Board Narrowly Approves $150M Budget

BRICK, NJ -- The Brick Township Board of Education approved the 2016-17 school budget Monday night that will increase the school tax rate 3.51 percent, over objections from board members about transparency and the budgeting process.

"A cup of coffee and two donuts a month. That's what this increase amounts to," board member John Barton said, who was one of the four who voted to approve the budget.

"We must do as much as we can as efficiently as we can," said Karyn Cusanelli, who was one of three voting against. "We have to separate wants and needs."

Board members George White and Victoria Pakala and Board President John Lamela voted in favor, while board members Sharon Cantillo and Stephanie Wohlrab joined the dissent.

The 2016-17 budget of $149,999,323 includes a tax levy of $103,511,385, a 3.51 percent increase over the 2015-16 budget, district Business Administrator James Edwards said. It equals $98 per year on a home assessed at the township average of $293,500. Because the proposed levy exceeds the state-mandated 2 percent cap, Edwards said the budget would apply $1,564,544 of its $5.6 million cap bank.

"Tonight as I listened to the comments, it brought up more questions and concerns," Wohlrab said after the vote. "Did we look deep enough? I felt another look was warranted. ... I agree there's nothing I wouldn't do for the kids, but it (the tax increase) is going to be a hardship on people."

"Do i think it would have stopped a tax increase? No. I just felt another look was warranted," she said.

Cusanelli said the district should be exploring more shared services and should be reaching out to the community for collaboration to pay for some things, such as new championship banners that have been included in the estimate for the renovation of the East Gym at Brick Township High School.

"We could save the $12,000, if maybe someone in the community says, 'I'm going to donate those banners,' " she said.

Cusanelli also reiterated her frustration that a detailed budget was not released to the public sooner for reading and dissection and input. The detailed budget was released Thursday night to the board, she said. It had not been released to the public as of Monday's meeting. Both Thursday's board meeting, where the budget was presented to the public, and Monday night's meeting were sparsely attended.

"The people we represent deserve that respect," she said.

"That's the same respect they didn't get the last two years," Lamela retorted.

Interim Superintendent Thomas Gialanella and Edwards said some of the numbers were not finalized until last Thursday.

"I came in during the middle of the (budget) process," said Gialanella, who was hired at the end of January, adding he had to get up to speed on where things stood.

Last year, the board came under fire for not publicly stating that the 2015-16 budget included a provision to cut as many as 31 bus drivers at an anticipated savings of $1 million. That measure was rolled back after the budget was approved, forcing the district to come up with $1 million to replace the lost savings.

The largest portion of the 2016-17 budget -- roughly 82 percent -- goes to salaries and benefits, Edwards said at the public hearing. And the cost of benefits has risen significantly this year across the state, Edwards said Monday, adding that changes that were negotiated to the benefits package last year have helped to mitigate the cost somewhat. He said the 2016-17 budget includes roughly $17.3 million for staff benefits, an average of $30,000 to $35,000 for staff members with family coverage, he said in response to questions from John Nezgoda, Pakala's husband.

Cantillo said one of the negotiated changes is that new staff hired are eligible only for single coverage until they have four years with the district, which she said matches tenure eligibility, which she said will save money over time.

Cantillo also expressed frustration with the budgeting process.

"In the past every single board member was involved in developing priorities," she said, adding that the district found ways to make improvements.

"In the past we found a way to be able to put in in science labs, full-day kindergarten, and millions of facilities improvements and we did it all without raising taxes," she said. "I don't know how we did it, but a lot was done without increasing taxes."

"We are going ahead doing the best that we can, while keeping the amount of increases to taxpayers minimal," Barton said. "Is the school district running on a shoestring? In a lot of areas, yes. As far as what the money is being spent on, are we overpsending? No."

"Brick taxes are not that bad and they are going up in all areas this year," Barton said, adding, "It's been predicted since Sandy and politically predicted since Sandy as an 'I gotcha.' We need to get our facilities fixed to improve morale for all of our students and teachers."

"I ran for the board of ed as an educator," Lamela said. "I think we have balanced these budgets on the backs of the kids."

"Education is changing," board member George White said. "The STEM program (the new academy being added to both high schools in the fall) is necessary. We have to educate our kids."

"No one wants to pay more taxes but education is very expensive," White said. "Do you really want to try the alternative?"

"We are in the business of educating people not making widgets," Lamela said. "This increase, though unpleasant for some, is necessary. There are a lot of needs there, not wants."

"I hope that we can consistently put our dollars toward what will increase the value of our property," Pakala said, "so we can make people move into district for its schools and not move out because of its schools.

Lamela said the board will move forward with an operational audit to find efficiencies, but in the short term, he said, "We have to pay our obligations."

"I still think we can find some cost savings," he said. "I believe this budget does move us forward."

(Brick Township High School, Patch file photo)