The West Windsor-Plainsboro School District Budget for 2007-’08, currently under review, is expected to include a 4.3 percent increase over the current school spending package. The district is projecting $147,”155,”852 in expenses. According to school officials, residents will be asked to pay only about 3.2 percent more than last year, due to “parsimonious spending” two years ago.##M:[more]##
Larry Shanok, assistant superintendent for finance, says the tax levy will be kept in check by a $4.6 million surplus caused by an overestimation of costs for the 2005-’06 school year, particularly those involving health benefits for employees. Plainsboro will pay 40.4 percent, or $52,”961,”000, and West Windsor is responsible for 59.6 percent, or $75,”680,”000 of the tax levy. (see related story on page 1)
The public hearing on the budget will be held Tuesday, March 27, at Community Middle School at 7:30 p.m.
Shanok says the primary cause for the increase is a 4.9 percent jump in salaries. An increasing number of high school students led to hiring three more teachers at that level. “Other than the salary increase, we’re maintaining what we’re doing. We’ve been able to keep the budget increase lower than the salary rate increase without cutting programs,” said Shanok.
Other costs include $2.4 million for athletics, a 3.8 percent increase, $21.2 million for special services, a 4.9 percent rise, $6 million for student support, a 6.2 percent jump, $3 million for improvement instruction, a 2.9 percent bump, $10 million in administrative costs, an increase of 3.2 percent, $12 million for maintenance, a 4.1 percent increase, and $8.2 million for transportation, a 4.8 percent hike.
The increases in transportation costs include adding new bus routes as well as anticipated rises in fuel costs.
The state of New Jersey increased its aid to the district by $292,”000, representing the most significant revenue increase.
The budget will be voted on by residents of both towns on Tuesday, April 17. The past five proposed budgets have been approved. If the budget were to be voted down by one or both municipalities, administrators from both towns would meet to attempt to arrive at an agreeable resolution.
