N.B. schools propose 4.6-cent tax increase
Officials hope budget will pass for first time in four years
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer
North Brunswick Township school district taxes could increase by 4.6 cents if voters approve the proposed budget on April 15.

Residents could see a $72.65 raise in taxes per year on an average assessed home of $157,878, or about $6 per month.

The total operating budget is $80.9 million, while the local tax levy increased 2.4-percent of last year's budget, to $64.4 million.

Superintendent Brian Zychowski said the efficiency in achieving this number could help the budget pass for the first time in four years.

"In educational programming and in educational environments, we have to make sure we have the best sound environment for student achievement, and we have to make sure we are monetarily efficient and fiscally responsible," Zychowski said.

The superintendent stated a number of reasons for the low increase: replacing retiring staff members with incoming, lower salaries; keeping down the administrative cost per pupil; an increase in about $1.2 million of state aid; zero based budgeting; a budgetary surplus; enterprise accounts such as an interlocal agreement with the township to do maintenance at the municipal building, renting out the high school auditorium and charging for 40 seats in an integrated pre-Kindergarten program; the receipt of grants; and triple-tiering transportation so one bus route travels to the high school, then the middle school, then the elementary school.

Because of these savings, the district will be able to fund a new high school engineering course, expanded academic support, a possible ROTC program, an SAT review course, instructional technology resources, an expanded summer academy, a reading specialist, a science and technology teacher, three additional classroom teachers and expanded nursing services at the high and middle schools.

Yet the increase in the budget is due mostly to the implementation of a full-day Kindergarten program, starting for the first time this fall. Although Zychowski said this was not a necessary addition, it was a promise made to voters if they approved a building referendum in 2006, which they did.

He said the $1.3 million program includes custodians to maintain the 104,000 square feet of additional room space, the hiring of teachers and aides, curriculum writing and staff development.

There are also other expenses included in the budget that are required of the district by the state.

There are $1 million worth of mandated programs such as a full-day autistic program, three English-as-a-Second-Language teachers to accommodate Spanish-speaking students, and a special education behavior class. There are $1.3 million of assumed grants and DEPA, TARA and ISA.

Special education requires $19 million, about $4 million of which comes from government aid. Over 800 North Brunswick students receive special education services, and in the past six months 120 new students were included, Zychowski said.

The superintendent also said that although autistic students cost $16,000 to educate and transport, the in-house cost is dramatically lower than the $55,000 per student cost to send them out of the district.

There is also $800,000 worth of maintenance improvements including roof work at Linwood Middle School and Livingston Park Elementary, as well as site work at the high school practice football field and a high school pool heating system. Utilities have increased about $250,000, and $750,000 is for contractual salary, benefit and pension increases.

Because 94 percent of the tax expenses are mandated and only 6 percent is discretionary, the district used zero-based budgeting to create the 4.6-cent increase.

They began with teachers' requests, who went to the principals and then the business administrator and then central office. The Board of Education committees presented information about their evaluations, which led to public workshops and then the adoption of the budget by the board on March 19.

"We are being fiscally responsible with the lowest increase in many years," Zychowski said, noting 8.1 cents last year, 24.3 cents in 2006 and 15 cents in both 2005 and 2006, "while being fiscally responsible."

Yet there are some components that are not included. A long-range facility plan, an additional school counselor, an additional reception clerk and three extra custodians are not funded by the budget.

"We looked at every account from zero up, not just a rollover increase. We are able to add a very large program in fullday kindergarten with the lowest impact in about 10 years … so it's really a balanced approach, effectively addressing the needs of the [students and staff] and effectively budgeting monies that have the least amount of impact on taxpayers," Zychowski said.

He said there cannot be all cuts without addressing the needs of the district, just to ensure a small increase.

"It is sound budgeting, educational budgeting, very fiscal budgeting," the superintendent said.

There will be another budget presentation at the high school at 30 Raider Road on April 7.

The last day to mail an absentee ballot is April 8. The deadline to obtain an absentee ballot in person isApril 14 at 3 p.m. and can be done at the office of County Clerk Elaine Flynn in New Brunswick.

Polls will be open on April 15 from 2 to 9 p.m. at the same locations as the November elections. Residents will pass or deny the school budget, and will elect their Board of Education representatives.

ACandidates Night will be heldApril 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Linwood Middle School. Incumbent Connie Corbin and newcomers Carlo DiLalla, Seema Moondra, Arthur Young and Ram Tirumala will look to fill three three-year terms.

For more information, call the business administrator's office at (732) 289 - 3023.