Galloway School District Introduces Budget with No Tax Levy Increase

There is no increase in the tax levy for the proposed 2013 fiscal year school budget, according to a presentation given by Galloway Superintendent of Schools Annette Giaquinto and Business Administrator Tim Kelley Monday night, Feb. 27 at the meeting at the

The tax levy on the proposed $56,123,664 budget is $27,975,500, the same as last year. However, because of a reduction in ratables in the township, taxpayers will see a tax rate increase of 1.5¢, not attributable to the district.

The Board of Education unanimously approved the proposed budget.

The district now has until March 5 to submit its budget to the county superintendent’s office, followed by a March 7 meeting between Kelley and the county executive business administrator.

The next public discussion takes place at the March 19 Board of Education meeting, and the public hearing and last opportunity to make any changes to the budget is scheduled for March 26.

“Even though the public no longer votes on the budget, they still have the right to voice their opinions and ask questions,” Giaquinto said.

Earlier this year, the Board of Education to move school elections to November and pass the budget without a public vote, as long as the budget remains under the 2-percent tax levy cap, which the budget proposed Monday night does.

“I’m proud of our staff for putting together a budget with no tax increase,” Galloway Board of Education President Ernest Huggard said.

There will be no reduction in staff for budgetary reasons, Giaquinto said, but there may be a few reductions due to changes in enrollment. She said enrollment has stabilized, for the most part.

“We won’t see anything like two years ago, when there was a reduction by 65,” Giaquinto said.

Average class size for kindergarten is expected at about 16.6 students, while first grade is expected to average 18.4 students; 20.8 students for second grade; 18.9 students for third grade; 21.9 for fourth grade; 23.6 for fifth grade; and 20.5 for sixth grade.

“The low numbers are because if we remove one teacher, the numbers will skyrocket,” Giaquinto said. “I think these are excellent numbers.”

According to the presentation, the proposed budget helps maintain all existing programs and services, and continues to put a priority on maintaining reasonable class sizes.

An increase in of about $990,000 was beneficial in allowing new materials and professional development related to those new materials in math for grades K-5; English language arts for grades K-3; seventh- and eighth-grade social studies classes; health classes in first through eighth grade; and greater use of iPads in various programs and grades.

Giaquinto clarified that didn’t mean every child would receiving an iPad, but iPads will be available for those struggling in certain areas.

Carpet replacement for “identified classrooms” will continue, and new HVAC units for the district server room and the and school computer labs are among facility upgrades made possible by the budget. Access control upgrades for the School gym, resealing of the middle school’s parking lot, general concrete repairs and general maintenance of buildings and grounds are other upgrades made possible by the budget.