School Board to Vote on Budget This Week

The Westwood Regional Board of Education is scheduled to vote on a budget with a 1.39 percent tax levy increase Thursday.

The total $52,191,950 budget would come with a tax levy of $47,196,516. If approved, Westwood taxpayers will see an increase in what they pay while Washington Township taxpayers will see a decrease because of a disparity in the assessments of the municipalities' values, according to district Business Administrator Keith Rosado. Westwood's assessed value has gone down about $4 million while the township's has decreased by about $10 million this year.

This year, Westwood residents paid for about 52 percent of the budget and township residents paid for about 47 percent. If the proposed budget is approved, borough residents will pay for 54 percent and township residents will pay for 45 percent. The difference will end up being an increase of about $238 for the average Westwood homeowner and a $62 decease for the average township homeowner, Rosado said.

Residents will not have the opportunity to vote on the district budget this year because of , which moves school elections to the general election on November 6. Some board members said they were concerned about removing control of the budget from the public. If the district proposes a budget with a tax levy of more than 2 percent, it will require a public vote. The majority of school districts in the state passed similar resolutions.

According to Rosado, the proposed budget includes several capital improvements to district facilities, including renovations to the lower gym, locker rooms and Hurley Theatre at

The Board of Education meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Jr./Sr. High School.