School Budget Would Cost Average Taxpayer Additional $54 Per Year

On April 26, taxpayers will vote on a $25,917,317 budget for school year 2011-2012 that has a tax levy of $23,876,774, increased roughly one percent from last year, which will cost the average taxpayer an additional $4.50 per month or $54 a year.

Dr. Mark Porto, superintendent of schools, explained to an audience made up of community members, teachers, administrators and board of education members Wednesday night that he and the board of education were "able to reallocate resources, hold accountability and be creative in providing programs and instruction by increasing the budget only 1 percent."

Porto took it upon himself answer the question 'why didn't the district just go to the state mandated 2 percent cap' and explained that he and the board felt that because the governor has granted them the ability to bank funds this year it would be the best thing to do so that there will be funds they can turn to when they are needed.

As planning a budget is about looking towards the future and not behind, Porto told the audience he wanted to make sure they understood that budgeting is more about where they plan to be than just where to spend money.

Porto explained the district does not anticipate any change in tenured teaching staff for the 2011-2012 school year. In addition to not taking any programs away the district will be adding additional program such as six AP or advanced placement classes – AP music theory, AP biology, AP Spanish, AP US history, AP art history and AP studio art.

Other additions include personal finance and career exploration for grade 9, career based electives including anatomy and physiology, webpage design, careers in education. Some electives for twelfth grade students include medical chemistry, aviation physics and journalism.

The district will add a biology/life science teacher for AP biology, a business teacher and will add a middle school/high school gym teacher.

Porto said for sports programs they are looking into collaborating with neighboring Wood-Ridge and are looking at bringing swimming into the district and girls volleyball for the middle school.

There will be many more technological advancements brought in this year. Porto told the audience that the goal is to have a smartboard in every classroom.

One audience member asked what the cost per taxpayer would be had they gone to cap to which Porto and Dina Messery, business administrator, explained it would be $9 per month for the average home value. She explained that this average is based on the average home value of $436,000.

Some audience members asked Porto what would happen if the budget were to be voted down and what that would mean for teachers and/or programs.

Porto explained that if the budget were voted down the mayor and council would then step in, review the budget and make their recommendations to the board of what should be cut. One audience member said there were times borough officials cut the school’s budget so much that many things were lost and was concerned about it happening again.

Porto said he’d prefer not to discuss what would be cut if the budget were to be voted down as he does not want to present the budget in a threatening way – he said he just wants people to vote. 

Editor's note: The board of education made the budget presentation available on its web site as of Thursday. Taxpayers can view the presentation here.