Womack suggests $300K in budget cuts
N.B. school board believes it can live with that figure
By dave goldberg
Staff Writer

North Brunswick Township Council President Francis "Mack" Womack is suggesting that the Board of Education cut $300,000 from the defeated school budget.

"The conclusion I have reached on the whole is that the board doesn’t have a great deal of fat in the budget," Womack said. "We can’t make a lot of cuts without hurting teachers or programs, and I am not willing to do that."

The $44 million plan was defeated by only 49 votes on April 16, with only 7 percent of registered voters casting.

The item on the defeated school budget was considered merely a discussion because only Womack and Councilmen Bruce Chandlee and Adam Weiss were present during the conversation. According to Township Attorney Tom Cafferty, there must be either a mayor and three council members or four council members to maintain a quorum.

Because of a lack of a quorum, the council could not take formal action. Only three members attended Monday night’s discussion on the issue.

Mayor David Spaulding and Councilwoman Maureen Little were absent from the meeting. Council Vice President Carlo Socio and Councilman Larry Baldini excused themselves from the discussion because they determined it to be a conflict of interest. Socio works as a substitute, and Baldini’s wife works for the district.

Schools Superintendent Robert Rimmer said Tuesday that the board could live with the proposed cuts.

"That is a number we could be comfortable with," Rimmer said.

The council must present proposed cuts to the board by May 20 in order to comply with state law, according to Rimmer.

If the board does not agree with the proposed cuts by the council, it can appeal to the state commissioner of education, according to Rimmer.

"We think $300,000 is a substantial cut. There is not a lot of fat to cut," Rimmer said.

Womack said that he had looked into two different avenues to relieve the budget.

"We were looking into taking out the surplus from the bond ordinance, but the board did not feel comfortable doing that, and they ultimately rejected it," Womack said. "Ultimately I am recommending that about $300,000 be cut from the budget.

There were very few areas to cut out of the budget, according to Womack.

"One of the main problems is that there is no increase from the state for New Jersey schools," Womack said. "We found a few places where cuts can be made without hurting teachers and programs. There was no increase in state aid, and people in North Brunswick will have to make up those dollars. It is likely the dollar amount will go back to taxpayers should the board get the rate relief. There is a willingness on the board’s part to consider that."

Chandlee said that there should be more items cut out of the budget.

"We do have to make a cut, and it has to be realistic and equitable," Chandlee said. "I think we can cut up to $500,000; cutting $300,000 isn’t enough. We have to send a message to the school board that something has to be done."

Weiss does not want to see the education affected in the district.

"I want to see a zero impact on the education in town," Weiss said. "We have great teachers and a wonderful environment. I do not want to do anything to impact the education of North Brunswick. I don’t want to see anyone adversely affected. I do not see much fat in this budget."

Some of the proposed cuts Womack is looking to make include: $225,000 from health costs, $10,000 from technical services, $9,000 for a golf cart, and $30,000 in general insurance costs. The total price for the school budget was expected to be $52,767,686.

Only seven percent of the voting public came out with the budget being defeated, 728 to 679. The $300,000 cut would be a $22.50 decrease to every household, according to Womack.

The council had hoped to vote on the defeated school budget, but they were not able to do, because of the lack of quorum, according to Womack.

"We had hoped to vote tonight, but there is no quorum," Womack said Monday night. "We are looking into taking action by May 20; however, there is some concern to whether our decision needs to done before May 20. The budgetary action must forwarded no later than May 20. We must have a passed resolution in hand by the close of the business day. It may be 5 p.m. on Monday."

The fate of the budget will be decided at Monday night’s township meeting.