Little Silver School Budget Increase Taxes 1.9 percent

 The Little Silver Board of Education adopted the 2011-2012 budget on Thursday, March 24, in the Markham Place School library.

Superintendent of Schools Carolyn M. Kossack told members of the public at the meeting that she was glad to report that the budget of $11,175,479 is $35,149 lower than the current 2010-2011 school year, which means that no services will be cut. 

"Our primary goal is student achievement,'' Kossack said. "We can assure you students are getting an outstanding education."

Kossack stressed the importance of maintaining district initiatives and continuing to follow the strategic plan, which she introduced to the board first year as superintendent of the district, four years ago. Next year will be the fifth and final year of the strategic plan and its budgetary implications. 

The four goals of the Strategic Plan are: curriculum and instruction, safety and security, community engagement, and finance (which seeks out potential cost savings). 

While the budget amount has decreased since last year, it increases the tax levy by 1.9 percent. This will raise taxes approximately $80 a year for the average home in the borough.

The average house in Little Silver has an assessed value of $501,856, according to Business Administrator and Board Secretary Amy Lerner.

A tax rate increase of 1.59 cents per $100 assessed value raises the tax bill on such a home by $80 a year, or $6.63 a month.

Last year the voters rejected the budget for the first time in many years, forcing the board to make and additional $660,000 cut in the budget.

The district has intensified its efforts to explain the budget this year, however, in an effort to showcase the importance of the budgetary impact on the school's continued success.

Even though the budget for 2011-2012 is lower than the current year, the tax rate is higher because the district's revenues are lower, Lerner explained.

One improvement over the current year is the district will get about $90,000 in state aid after getting nothing from the state for this year, Kossack said.

"This is still significantly less than the $500,000 plus received in prior years," she said.

Due to new legislation, the district is permitted to raise the tax levy 2 percent from the current levy.

However, due to an 8.6 percent increase in healthcare costs next year, the district received an automatic waiver from the state allowing them to increase the tax levy by 2.2 percent, according to Lerner.

The board decided it was unfair to ask the citizens to contribute the extra $21,406 allowed by law, and kept the budget $31,407 under the amount allowed by law.

The district is continuing to explore ways to raise money, Kossack said. Among the changes being implemented is charging outside organizations for the use of school buildings outside of school hours.

Volunteers, such as the Education Foundation of Little Silver also help save cost, she said. The EFLS raises money to purchase technology used in instruction.

Josephine Nagle, president of the foundation, said the group has contributed $372,000 to the district since it started in 1995. The group is actively seeking new members.

"They give so much time, energy and money to the board," Kossack said of EFLS.

94.1 percent of the school budget is funded by property taxes, and if the budget is not passed again this year programs, staffing, and services will all be negatively impacted.

For a full slideshow presentation of the Little Silver budget presentation visit their website and click on the item labelled "11-12 budget presentation".

Residents will have the chance to vote on the proposed budget in the school board election April 27. Polls will be open from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Contact the municipal clerk if you are unsure of your polling location.