Student Activity, Club Fees Eliminated In Bridgewater-Raritan School Budget

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional's school budget for 2024-25 was approved on Tuesday night which includes an increase in taxes and also the elimination of fees to participate in school activities and clubs.

"One of our goals as a district is equity for all students rights to reduce barriers for participation," said Superintendent Robert Beers at the Tuesday Board of Education meeting. "If you wanted to join a club there's a fee, if you wanted to join a sport there’s a fee. That's eliminated because the last thing we want is a family's ability to pay for something to get in the way of student participation."

Business Administrator Peter Starrs noted that the fees for sports, band or activities at the intermediate level will now be absorbed within the budget.

"I want to commend the Board for taking that on and supporting that initiative because it will have a profound effect on our student body next year," said Beers.

The Board of Education approved the $183,090,908 million final budget on Tuesday which includes a 2.59 increase.

Under the budget, a homeowner in Bridgewater would see a tax increase of $46.63 per $100,000 of assessment per year for the general fund.

Additionally, under the debt service, which was approved under the referendum in 2023, a homeowner in Bridgewater would see a tax increase of $23.15 per $100,000 of assessment per year.

This equals a total of $69.78 per $100,000 of assessment per year for a Bridgewater homeowner.

In Raritan, a homeowner would see a tax decrease of $9.75 per $100,000 of assessment per year for the general fund.

Additionally, under the debt service, a homeowner in Raritan would see a tax increase of $19.51 per $100,000 of assessment per year.

This equals a total of $9.76 per $100,000 of assessment per year for a Raritan homeowner.

Increases to budget are attributed to personnel, benefits, transportation, utilities, and inflation, said Starrs.

Specifically, Starrs pointed to transportation which had a "significant increase of 9.24 percent or $13.8 million."

Included in the budget is the addition of 5 positions under the federal ESSER fund (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund). The district is also adding two guidance counselors.

There is a reduction of 11 staff members through attrition and retirement including two full-time employees in grades 5 to 6; five full-time employees at grades 7 to 8; and four full-time employees at grades 9 to 12.

Along with expenditures for curriculum writing, technology allocation and improvements to cybersecurity, the district also has a number of facility projects.

Projects include replacing the BRHS grandstands, replacement of Hillside's gym floor, Turf 3 replacement, painting and referendum work.

Referendum work includes securing vestibules for $51,940, window replacements, BRMS toilet renovations, and Basilone Fieldhouse and parking renovations.

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