Cedar Grove Board of Education Introduces Tentative $26.1 Million Budget

The Cedar Grove Board of Education introduced its tentative 2011-2012 budget at its regular meeting Tuesday night, which calls for a slight increase in spending, but a reduced per-household tax impact.

The proposed $26.1 million spending plan calls for a tax levy of $23,931,185, an increase of $457,590, or 1.9 percent, over last year, just below the 2 percent tax cap imposed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie this year.

The average school tax increase for a home assessed at the township average of $480,000 would be $75 if the budget passes as-is, interim schools business administrator Ernie Turner said Wednesday, which is $122 less than last year's school tax hike.

The state reinstated $244,259 of the district's aid in February, but the total aid the district will receive is still far less than the $1.26 million it got in 2009-2010.

Following last year's budget defeat, which voters rejected by 22 votes, the district cut expenses by an additional 1.32 percent after eliminating 11 teacher positions -- three elementary, three middle school and five high school -- and one administrative position, Superintendent Dr. Gene Polles said.

Additionally, all non-bargaining employees took a salary freeze for the 2010-2011 school year, as did all administrators and custodians. Class sizes also slightly increased district-wide, which Polles said made for a difficult task for building administrators, who had to balance the new numbers by class and subject.

The Board of Education will continue its budget discussions at its March 15 meeting, and will hold a public hearing on the budget at 8 p.m. on March 29 at the media center of North End Elementary School, 122 Stevens Ave. The budget is subject to change until that date.

Voters will consider the final spending plan at the polls on April 27.