BOE agrees to $1 million cut from N.B. budget
But residents feel reduction is too severe, considering close vote
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - The Township Council and Board of Education have agreed to cut $1 million from the 2008- 2009 defeated school budget.

However, residents think the reduction is a bit extreme.

On April 15, the $80.9 million total operating budget was voted down by 51 votes, the fourth time in a row that North Brunswick residents have opposed the proposed budget number.

Therefore, on Monday, the two organizations announced a settlement that will reduce the $2.79 proposed 2008 tax rate by approximately 4 cents, resulting in a $2.75 adjusted tax. The 2008 property tax for school purposes will increase $10 over the 2007 tax rate on an average assessed home of $157,787.

The number was originally suggested at last week's Township Council workshop meeting and was approved by the council at Monday night's public meeting.

"I am pleased with the collective effort of both organizations in response to the voters of the defeated budget. I believe the Board of Education had already demonstrated its commitment to restrain spending by preparing a budget that was within the new state-mandated tax levy limit of 4 percent. In my view, the number of voters who voted for and against the proposed budget did not constitute the grounds for dramatic action by the Township Council; however, the school district's budget was nevertheless defeated, and it is the council's duty to represent the voters in the defeated school budget process. I commend the committees on maintaining our common goal of avoiding cuts which could impact classroom instruction while maintaining a stable tax rate," saidMayor Francis "Mac" Womack.

According to Womack, the budget was immediately referred to township Business Administrator Robert Lombard and township auditor Andy Hodulik after the defeat, who then arranged staff-level meetings with Superintendent of Schools Brian Zychowski and school Business Administrator James Riehman.

Then a council subcommittee of Cathy Nicola, Ralph Andrews and Carlo Socio, using the advice of Lombard and Hodulik, made a decision on a number to reduce the budget by.

Nicola said the original figure was $1,160,000 but the two groups jointly agreed on $1 million instead. Andrews said the number was achieved by asking questions, looking at the prior year's budget, and proposing a list of new programming and services that would not impact the current delivery of education.

The suggested cuts are in the area of clerical, maintenance and instructional staff related to programs the school district was looking to add.

However, the council merely makes recommendations, and the school board has complete discretion over which line items they remove. The discussion by the Board of Ed. will take place this week.

"I am very pleased that we reached a resolution quickly and amicably without dramatically impacting the delivery of educational services," said school board President Connie Corbin.

However, residents expressed their concerns during Monday's public session.

"I understand 51 votes made this budget fail ... [but] I find it hard to believe there aren't more people concerned about the education of their children," said Rita Stasick, noting that property values are directly related to the education in town.

Fellow parent Sue Selvaggio agreed, saying the amount cut is "disproportionate" to the number of votes cast.

"To cut a million dollars for 51 votes seems a bit extreme," she said.

She also said that the funding for a new artificial turf field, which was part of the municipal tax budget, was not voted on, although it will only service about 10 to 15 percent of kids in town. On the other hand, 95 percent of school-age residents use the public school system, and those programs are impacted by a vote.

"I just felt the cut was unfair," she said.

She then added that full-day kindergarten, which will cost around $1 million, should be eliminated since those parents didn't come out to vote to support the budget.

Another issue is the entire situation surrounding school taxes- both low voter turnout and the way taxes are collected.

"The bottom line is, and I think everyone can agree on this, is the way schools are funded in New Jersey is ridiculous. The property tax situation is a disaster," Andrews said.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts formally introduced legislation last week that would eliminate theApril school elections and would move school board elections to November. The school budget would then only be voted on if it exceeds statutory spending or tax levy limits.