North Brunswick budget fails for third consecutive year
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

North Brunswick's 2007-08 school budget failed for the third straight year, despite carrying a proposed tax increase well lower than the previous few.

The budget suffered about a 9 percent defeat, with districts 5, 15 and 18 in the John Adams Elementary School area of town most highly opposing the increase. The increase would have hiked the tax rate 9 cents per $100 assessed value, and raised taxes $138.02 per year for the owner of a home assessed at $200,000.

The defeat is being blamed on low voter turnout and frustration over the state's school funding method. Schools Superintendent Brian Zychowski credited Assistant Superintendent Geri Margin and Business Administrator Marshall Sigall for working "tirelessly to try to give a balanced approach to address the needs of the students and the staff while being cognizant of the burden of the taxpayers."

The money was set to fund the hiring of four additional elementary school teachers, an instructional aide for the sheltered bilingual program, the continuation of the ninth-grade Transition Project, the enhancement of in-district special education classes, the reinstitution of the summer academy for third- through eighth-grade students, increased technology throughout the district, textbook purchases, various capital projects and the hiring of an additional HVAC mechanic for the district.

The next step is for the school board to present the Township Council with their budget. The council must then examine the budget and take a vote either recommending cuts to the spending plan or leaving it as it is. If the school board is unhappy with the council's recommendation, it can appeal the decision to the state.

"It's unfortunately a task we've become all too familiar with," said Councilman Carlo Socio, who has worked on decreasing former failed budgets. "There is only so much a taxpayer feels they can take. We need to make thorough reviews and make recommendations that we feel are responsible and that keep the educational goals in tact for the coming school year. But it's clear that the residents, as indicative throughout Middlesex County and the state, have reached the point where enough is enough."

In addition to the budget vote, incumbent Karen Hirrschoff and newcomers Richard Liguori and David Higham were elected to fill three seats on the Board of Education. Two board seats were vacated by current board President Ann Casey and board member Curt Kristjanson, who decided to step down for personal reasons.

"I'm very thrilled. I'm going to work hard. We have lots to do with promoting the community's belief in the board and the budget," Hirrschoff said.

Liguori feels the budget situation can be achieved by having the board meetings televised live.

"I think we need to be as transparent as possible. That is a huge first step," he said.

Higham feels the district, overall, needs to look toward the future of the school system.

"Education is not a local household issue, it is a community-wide and statewide issue. If we have an educated, youthful population, it will add to the economic growth of the community, which is really the foundation of the economic growth of the state ... and [students will] contribute to society and be outstanding citizens," he said.

The board will hold a reorganization meeting on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the board offices on Old Georges Road. For more information, call (732) 289-3000.