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Unofficially, the budget overwhelmingly passed, 547-108. The budget represents a 1.65 percent property tax levy increase, well below the state-mandated 1.9 percent cap.
This year’s budget focused on several key points, which included managing expected enrollment increases and addressing changes to curriculum that need to be addressed due to the new state Common Core Learning Standards.
In an effort to comply with the new learning standards, there will be rotating electives at the high school to limit the number of under-enrolled classes, and fifth-graders will spend more time developing science and technological skills.
To accommodate the enrollment increases, and to control class sizes, the district intends to add an extra second-grade section, bringing class size down to 21 students per class. A kindergarten teacher has also been added, as confirmed registrations (101) have exceeded the projected number of students (95).
The district, like many municipalities and schools across the county, continues to be affected by escalating state mandates. In total, more than 75 percent of the budget is dedicated to salaries and benefits, according to Superintendent of Schools David Quattrone.
“Salaries, benefits and contracted services alone account for the full increase in expenditures,” he said about the budget. “Mandated employer contributions to pensions remain a key driver.”
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