As budget season begins for officials in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, continued enrollment growth is the biggest factor school officials are facing as they begin their preliminary discussions.##M:[more]##
The school board kicked off its first budget discussion January 22 with a presentation from Assistant Superintendent for Finance Larry Shanok. Shanok said that last year’s legislation would have placed a 4 percent general fund tax cap levy on the district’s budget, as it applies to all districts around the state. For the WW-P school district, that would have translated into a maximum increase of $4,”857,”857. But he also reminded the board that legislation approved this year by the state reduces that amount even further.
In December Governor Jon Corzine announced the release of the new state school funding formula, which called for approximately $7.8 billion to be distributed for K-12 education around the state, or an increase of approximately $530 million, beginning with the 2008-’09 school year. After years of being flat-funded, WW-P schools would have seen state aid go from $10,”504,”000 to $11,”554,”000 — an increase of $1,”050,”000, or 10 percent.
However, as Shanok told the board earlier this month, districts with a 10 percent increase will have to apply 3/4 of the increase to the tax levy, which helps taxpayers, but actually provides little new funding for the actual schools. Shanok’s presentation on January 22 showed that the legislation would limit the school board to only increasing the general fund tax levy by a total of $4,”111,”307, or only about a 3.9 percent increase. Out of the $1,”050,”000, only $303,”450 would not have to be used toward the tax levy. Still, adding $303,”450 to the $4,”111,”307 is not equivalent to the $4.8 million it would have been able to raise under a simple 4 percent cap, he said.
Board President Hemant Marathe said school officials are anticipating increased student enrollment, especially at the high school and middle school levels. He said early estimates are that the school enrollment district-wide will increase between 100 and 200.
Shanok said there would be realignment within the district to provide coverage at the levels of instruction where the increase is projected. “It’s not just hiring, but a realigning within the district, which, given the growth, also includes the need to hire new.” As far as the elementary schools are concerned, “some grades might be heavier and need more support. Some grades seem to be lightening up and need less,” meaning they could balance out.
The next budget discussion will take place at the board meeting on Tuesday, February 12. — Cara Latham
