Schools

Red Bank Regional BOE Adopts Reduced Budget that Raises Taxes

One of the top high schools in New Jersey and the nation strives to keep top-notch educational and athletic programs.

The Red Bank Regional High School Board of Education met last night, March 23, to present the 2011-2012 budget to the public. The total budget was established as $26,031,769, a reduction of 1.9 percent from last year.

Last year, for the first time in 12 years, the budget was defeated by the district--resulting in an additional cut of $270,500 from the 2010-2011 budget, and a cut in personnel. 

This year, the budget has been reduced, but taxes will go up. Last year, $525,896 of the fund balance was eliminated in lieu of state aid. That money would normally have been used to reduce taxes this year. However, the 2 percent budget restriction and the reduction in state aid forced the board to lessen account items which resulted in a lower budget but higher taxes. 

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If the budget is defeated again this year, most likely staff and programs will be diminished, including establishing "pay-to-play" for athletic and co-curricular programs.

The budget was adopted by the board with only one abstention from Ray Costa. 

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Click through the media gallery for the full slideshow presentation which offers comprehensive details about the budget.

SYNOPSIS:

Total Budget: $26,031,769 - 1.9 percent reduction from last year ($510,341) and maintains current teaching staff and programs. 

What was decreased?

  • 82 percent of budget accounts
  • per pupil costs decreased by 3.8 percent ($698 per student)
  • salaries (elimination of treasurer position, reduction in number of activities and clubs, reduction in salaries of superintendent, substitute caller and summer school program)
  • supply budgets decreased 27 percent over the last three years
  • transportation costs (field trips, vocational school and special education private school placement contracts)
  • postage 
  • telecommunications
  • bonds issued in 2002 have been refinanced at a saves of approximately $315,000, or 5 percent over the next ten years

What has increased?

  • Tuition payments for our out of district students (vocational schools and special education private schools)
  • special education costs
  • professional development
  • benefits

Capital Improvements

  • Outdoor Track Resurfacing: $300,000
  • Auditorium Renovation: $164,615
  • Phone/Intercom System: $70,385

**Auditorium and Phone projects are funded 40 percent by state facility grants and 60 percent from the capital reserve fund.

Tax Levy

  • increased 1.62 percent, or $309,397.80
  • Average home tax increase: Little Silver-$64.94 per year, Red Bank-$20.20 per year, Shrewsbury-$48.23 per year.

Tax levy's are calculated by the equalized rate valuation formula which is set by the state. RBR has no control over this calculation. The formula takes into account the number of students attending the high school versus their elementary schools and the current assessed value of homes compared to market value. So, while each town is paying different amounts, the formula calculates that each town is paying the tax levy that is proportional to their town's student enrollment. 

Tuition

Tuition rates have increased approximately 30 percent over the last five years, while costs per pupil have increased less than 10 percent. The total tuition revenue is $3,282,000, which has increased 2.5 percent, or $80,960.

 

In response to the , Business Administrator, Christine Galvao said, "The district’s average per pupil cost is $17,861. However, the average per pupil cost for classroom instruction (salaries, benefits, textbooks, supplies) is $9,970.  These are the costs above the fixed costs of running the district such as building maintenance (utilities, repairs, custodial, grounds), administration (business office and school office costs, legal fees, insurance), support services (guidance, media center, child study team)."

 Galvao also indicated that classroom instruction costs do not include extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs, or equipment replacement.  

"The tuition rate charged not only covers the costs for non-resident students’ classroom instruction but provides additional revenue to offset the fixed costs and extracurricular activities of Red Bank Regional High School," Galvao explained.  

 

Voting on the proposed budget and electing officials to the board of education will take place on Wednesday, April 27 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at your usual voting locations.


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