Board of Ed. approves $183M temporary budget Proposed spending plan would increase taxes by about $112.50 BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer The Woodbridge Township Board of Education unanimously approved a $183 million tentative school budget at a special meeting last week that increases taxes by $112.50 per year for the average homeowner. "This is a solid budget that meets all of the needs of our school district for the 2008-09 school year," said Schools Superintendent Vincent Smith, who stressed that the budget numbers presented at the special budget meeting were not the finalized numbers. "We have to submit our budget to the County Superintendent of Schools by March 6, which is required by law." The school district will hold two public hearings on the budget: at 7 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Heights School No. 21 on Inman Avenue in Colonia on March 10, and at 7 p.m. at the Avenel Middle School on March 20. The board will also vote on whether or not to adopt the budget on March 20. "We started out with a tax increase of $120; however, after discussions and work by the finance and insurance committee, the increase is down to $112.50," said Smith. The BOE held a special budget meeting on Feb. 25 at Avenel Middle School to announce the tentative budget. Seven out of the nine members of the board were on hand to vote for the proposed spending plan. The proposed budget for the 2008-09 year is $183,597,229, up roughly $8.6 million from last year. "Residents will vote on the tax levy, which is proposed to be $143,651,118," said Smith. "The average home is assessed at $75,000." Under the state's new school funding formula, the district received $4.393 million in state aid. "It's important that residents understand that we did not receive an increase of 20 percent in state aid of the overall budget, but just received $4.393 million more than what we are currently receiving [$21 million] for the 2007-08 budget," said Smith. "We received $26 million for the 2008- 09 budget, so we received a total of $4.393 million in state aid." And although, the school district received an increase in state aid, the superintendent stressed that it didn't mean that the tax rate would go down. "Theoretically, we could use the $4.3 million to lower taxes; however, we have to remember that $4.3 million would have to be reduced from the expenses side, including from programs, curriculum and personnel," he said. "Our fixed costs have increased, including pensions and utilities, and our ratables have decreased by $22 million." The superintendent added that the money would go toward teacher salaries. "We have lost teachers over better offers from other school districts," he said. The $112.50 tax increase is up $30 from $82.50 last year; however, the superintendent said the district was fortunate, because it was able to factor in two grants - a $1.4 million Tara grant, which was half of the tax relief, and a help grant - for the 2007-08 budget. "We don't expect this to happen this year, because I already asked and was told [that] what we got [$26 million] is what we will only get," said Smith, who also added that grants available last year were not available this year. "Before the state aid last year, we were looking at close to a $112 tax increase, similar to what we are looking at for the 2008-09 budget." This is the second year that the district has received an increase in state aid, after five years of no increase in the past seven years.Historically, the district has received less than average state aid funding. Smith and the board stressed that it is important for everyone to take a look at the budget and ask questions. "We will go over and explain the new state school funding formula and whatever questions that residents may have," he said. For more information, visit www.woodbridge. k12.nj.us. School budget elections will be held on April 15. Residents can register up to 21 days prior to Election Day (March 25). Voter registration and absentee ballot applications are available at all Woodbridge Township schools as well as at the Woodbridge Township School District Administration building on School Street and at Town Hall, 1 Main St.