Surplus offsets L.S. school budget rise
Three candidates run for three seats on school board
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer

LITTLE SILVER - Although the 2008-2009 Little Silver school budget is up by 3 percent over last year, the overall tax levy will decrease this year, said the district's Business Administrator Robert M. DeVita.

The two-school district has proposed an overall budget of about $12 million, which includes the general fund, special revenue fund and debt service.

The $10.77 million tax levy is down 0.7 percent from last year and the new tax rate would be 85.9 cents per $100 of assessed value.

"We had a significant amount of surplus this year that we were able to appropriate for the difference. The total surplus amount is $445,803 so that's why although the budget is up, the tax levy is down," said DeVita.

The proposed 85.9-cent per $100 of assessed property value rate represents a 1.2 percent decrease from the previous year.

DeVita said last year the district applied for a capital outlay waiver increase to install a new roof at the Markham Place School, which accounted for much of last year's increase in the tax levy.

He said this year's tax levy is decreased by the amount for that project last year, which was $475,000.

For the owner of the average home assessed at $552,534, the budget would mean an annual tax increase of about $64.

According to DeVita, some of the major components of the budget include the addition of a special education teacher, three full-time teacher assistants, two part-time teacher assistants and one bus aide.

"We also have increases this year in terms of [electric and natural gas] utilities, the board's pension contribution on behalf of its employees and then health benefits," said DeVita, adding, "Those are the big drivers of the budget this year. You also have your traditional salary increases that the budget goes along and supports."

The district also received a $17,975 increase in state aid this year in the amount of $545,751.

"We received the minimum amount [of state aid] that the state was giving any district this year," said DeVita.

In addition to voting on the school district budget April 15, residents will also vote for three members of the Board of Education for three-year terms.

According to DeVita, there are only three candidates for the three seats, including incumbents James Maguire, of Mitchell Place, and Cynthia Mendoza, of Parker Avenue, and newcomer Amy Walsack, of Rustic Terrace.

If the budget is voted down onApril 15, the Borough Council will review the spending plan. The council is not required to make any changes to the budget, though it can, if it chooses, reduce or even increase the amount of money the district plans to spend and raise through taxes.

If the school board believes the changes the council has made would too severely affect district operations, they may appeal the council's decision to the state Commissioner of Education who would have the last word on any revisions to the budget.