Tax Hike in 4 of 5 Regional School Towns OK'd

The West Morris Regional Board of Education passed its 2013-14 budget with more than $50 million in expenditures, with the tax impact rising in four of the five sending municipalities.

The tax levy is up $785,709 — or 2 percent — from the current year's budget, accounting for $40,071,143 of the overall spending plan.

Chester Borough's tax rate of .4001— up from .3762 last year — means that a home valued at $500,000 would see a $119.50 increase in its tax bill for the coming school year.

Chester Township has a tax rate of .5452, an increase of .0240 from the year prior, and the tax impact there jumped $120.

Mendham Borough is at .4853, up from the current year's .4667, for an impact of $93 more. Mendham Township's tax rate rose .0125 to .5148 this year for a raise of $62.50.

Washington Township was the only municipality to see a decrease, dropping .0073 from last year to .5181 this year for tax decrease of $36.50 on a home assessed at $500,000.

Board member and finance committee chairperson Jacke Schram said that $46,836,493 is the regular operating budget, which is up .30-percent–or $139,570–over the current year.

"Added to that, our restricted appropriations ($585,235) and capital reserve appropriations ($597,246), which have no tax impact, and we also have a need to service the debt," Schram said. "We needed an appropriation for that $2,317,206, which will give us total anticipated expenses of $50,335,749."

"The regular operating budget is going to go up $139,750, it's made up of increases and decreases," Schram said.

"The major increases are: Employee benefits are going up $418,510, that is net of the employee contribution, without that employee contribution they'd be going up $852,000, and it's health benefits. Tuition is going up $244,976, it is for private, special ed schools. Special ed is going up $16,069, we anticipate additional need for professional services. Technology is going up $86,394, we have an anticipated extension of bandwidth. Transportation is going up $49,657, which is reflective of special needs transportation. That's a total increase of $815,606, without that employee contribution the total increase would $1.2 million."

The decreases, Schram said, are district operational costs — which include an increase in the SDA assessment — which is down $19,218; curriculum/instruction, which is down $75,112; principal's budget ($80,061); building operations and maintenance ($237,456); and payroll ($264,190) for a total of $676,037, which is a net change of $139,569.

"[The] SDA assessment went up $58,000 this year," she said. "Without that, district operational cost would be down $77,000. Curriculum and instruction is down, it's been going down several years in a row; last year it was down $33,000. We have more efficient management in this area."

Budget presentations will take place in each of the municipalities: April 1, Mendham Borough; April 2, Chester Borough 7 p.m., Chester Township 7:30 p.m.; April 8 is Mendham Township; and April 10, Washington Township.

A full presentation of the budget can be viewed on the district website.