Borough keeps school budget under state cap

BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer

LITTLE SILVER - - With a 3.8 percent increase proposed, the borough Public School District's 2007-2008 budget is staying below the 4 percent mandated state cap.

The total general budget calls for an increase of about $220,000 over last year, and the tax levy would increase by about $360,000, or about 2.95 cents per $100 of assessed property value, if the spending plan is approved by voters April 17.

For the owner of a home assessed at $500,000, this would mean an annual tax increase of about $148.

The proposed 2.95 cent per $100 of assessed property value increase, is below last year's 4.24-cent tax rate increase.

The overall budget, including the tax levy, comes to about $10.5 million.

According to a budget review by the district's finance committee that appeared in the borough's newsletter this month, the district received an increase in state aid for the first time in five years in the amount of $15,000.

District Business Administrator Susan Irons said last week that she believes, despite the modest state aid increase, that it remains a strong budget.

"We are very happy to report that the proposed budget will allow us to maintain our level of services we provide to the children of Little Silver," she said. "This is the result of continued prudent fiscal management of our district administrators and the generous support we receive from various groups throughout the community."

Among those community groups are the Parent Teachers Organization, which raises funds to provide assembly programs and supplies, as well as the Little Silver Education Foundation that funds technology for the schools.

The finance committee, in its budget review in the newsletter, also cited the help of parent volunteers, the mayor and council, as well as the teachers and staff. As with most municipal and school budgets, according to Irons, health benefits and utility costs make up the majority of budget increases.

According to a list of budget expenditures available at the district's Web site, $1.5 million of the district's budget is allotted for health, dental, disability and workmen's compensation insurance, as well as social security contributions.

The operations and maintenance budget, which includes salaries for custodians, as well as the cost of gas, electric and water, as well as copiers, property insurance and building supplies, is a little more than $1 million.

Instruction costs, including teachers, aides and substitutes, as well as textbooks and other classroom supplies, make up the largest portion of the

budget at $3.6 million.

Instructional support, including administrators, the Child Study Team, libraries, office staff, information technology and food services, comes to almost $2.2 million.

Capital projects budgeted into the 2007-2008 school year include a partial roof replacement at Markham Place School, rooftop units for Point Road School, and the renovation of the guidance office.

The capital project budget comes in at less than $500,000. Irons said that she is hopeful that the community will support the budget when they vote on April 17.

"It's a very strong budget," she said. "It's a very good budget, and we stayed within the state guidelines."

In addition to voting on the school district budget, residents will also vote for two members of the Board of Education for three-year terms.

According to Irons, there are only two candidates for the two seats, including incumbent Seth Rosen and newcomer Andrew B. Lloyd.