Tax Increase Proposed In Bridgewater-Raritan School Budget For 2024-25

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A tax increase is being proposed as part of Bridgewater-Raritan Regional's preliminary school budget for 2024-25. The budget also includes the addition of seven positions and the reduction of 11 full-time staff members.

Superintendent Robert Beers and Business Administrator Peter Starrs presented the preliminary budget at the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education's March 12 meeting.

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

Under the preliminary 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.

"Part of the calculation is the ratrables for each of the communities. In Bridgewater the ratables went down a little bit.13 percent but in Raritan they went up 5.2 percent," said Starrs. "That is part of the reason why showing a decrease per the assessment because of the ratables."

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

"Despite those challenges we believe we put together a quality budget here," said Starrs.

Salaries and benefits take up a bulk of the spending totaling roughly $134 million followed by maintencne and operation and utilities for $15.6 million, transportation for $13.8 million and other costs.

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 numberof 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.

Final adoption of the budget and a public hearing on the budget will be held at the April 30 Board of Education meeting.

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