$899K Budget Jump Could Be OK'd by Twp. Schools Tuesday

Two major items headline the agenda for the Washington Township School district’s special meeting Tuesday night, including budgets and bullying.

As required by the state, Superintendent Jeff Mohre will give a presentation on the 2012-13 school violence and vandalism report, accompanied by a public hearing. The residents in attendance will have the opportunity to comment on the information and the district’s combating of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB).

In addition to the HIB presentation, a preliminary school budget presentation will be held and explained by Mohre for the 2014-15 spending plan.

The preliminary budget is expected to be adopted by the board, which will then be sent to the county’s executive superintendent for approval. A total budget of $42,301,975 will be presented.

Of that figure, $32,609,614 makes up the tax levy, or amount needed from taxes to be raised in the community. From the $32,609,614, a total of $1,481,324 is being allotted to debt service.

Each township and school board in New Jersey is, by law, required to keep a budget’s tax levy under a 2-percent increase from the year before. If the budget does not adhere to that mandate, it must be put to a vote for approval by residents. 

The district’s 2013-14 budget saw a 0.51-percent increase over the year before, but actually saw a slight decrease in the tax impact to residents. The total budget for the current school year is $41,402,014, which is $899,961 less than the proposed budget for the 2014-15 school year.

Washington Township’s state aid increased for the upcoming school year by $45,360 for a total of $8,042,922.

The public portion of the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Long Valley Middle School. The public is encouraged to attend.