Two Percent Increase for Next Year's School Budget in Little Silver

The Little Silver Board of Education approved a $13 million tentative budget for the 2013-2014 school year last week that represents a 2-percent increase over last year.

The amount of money to be raised through property taxes is $11.95 million, which is an increase of a little over $200,00 as compared to the 2012-13 budget.

The tentative budget, approved at the Feb. 21 board of education meeting, will make its way to the executive county superintendent for approval prior to the board's adoption in March.

The increase includes three new teachers and supports according to Board President Christian Smith. The district will hire two new kindergarten teachers and an additional sixth grade language arts teacher to accommodate an especially large class next year, added Smith.

The district also took into consideration potential cuts to education funding stemming from the sequester and budgeted for an anticipated cut of 25 percent, according to Business Administrator Amy Lerner. The district usually receives about $200,000 in federal funding annually, she said.

A public hearing will be held on March 21 on the final 2013-2014 budget at 7:30 p.m. in the Markham Place media center. Due to legislation and approval by the LSBOE last year, the budget does not have to be voted on in April by taxpayers as long as it stays within the 2-percent cap.