Schools

School Budget Could Include Additional Questions

The board will vote on whether to approve a 2013-14 budget with a second and third question for the voters.

An Open Finance Meeting for the Board of Education will take place Monday at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting will cover the proposed 2013-14 budget, which will likely include a second question for security improvements.

Superintendent Michael LaSusa proposed several options to the Board of Education for the new year's school budget. When the board meets Monday they will vote on whether to approve a budget with a second and third question attached.

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The table below shows the total allowable tax increase for the upcoming school year

2% Tax Levy Increase from 2012-13 Budget $1,080,102 Health Care Cost Adjustment $634,098 Banked Cap $517,409 Maximum Allowable Tax Levy Increase $2,231,609 Maximum Percentage of Tax Increase 4.13%

The budget as drafted calls a total of $55,409,234 to be raised in local taxes apart from the two separate proposals.

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The first proposal separate from the budget will enhance the counseling staff throughout the district. The cost for the 2013-14 school year is $240,000, a tax levy increase of 0.44 percent.

The second additional proposal will be to enhancements to school security, a priority which emerged after the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. in December. The cost of proposed enhancements is $225,000, and if the voters approve, this will increase the tax levy by 0.42 percent.

The Board of Education meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday, with an Open Finance Meeting preceding at 6:30 p.m. at the Chatham Township Municipal Building. A copy of the agenda is included in the Photos section of this article.


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