Livingston School Budget Approved: $283 Average Tax Increase for Homeowners

The Livingston Board of Education approved a $113.65 million budget for the upcoming school year during its Monday meeting, which will require a tax increase of $283 for the homeowner with a home valued at $600,000.

School officials stated that the plan will include an allowance for the hiring of new teachers, which will reduce class sizes. In addition, the budget will allow for the purchase of new math and social studies textbooks, as well as improvements to technology, professional development, and in-District programs for students with special needs.

Board members approved the budget by a 4 to 1 vote, with Art Altman dissenting.

Read a copy of the budget on the Livingston Public Schools website here.

According to school officials, new line items in the budget will also include:

• In-class support for World Language at LHS
• Extensive curriculum work, including work focused on the new science standards

• New Behavioral Disabilities Program for students with emotional/behavioral disabilities
• New Secondary Course offerings: Classical Foundations of Western Civilization and Digital Computing Tools.
• Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) shared between LHS and Heritage
• Air conditioning in the gymnasiums at Mt. Pleasant Middle, Burnet Hill, Collins, Harrison, and Hillside elementary schools (project makes use of state grant to pay 40 percent)

Send Livingston news tips and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com