Budget increase at 17.5 cents

Budget increase at 17.5 cents

By Joyce Blay

Staff Writer

JACKSON — Amid accusations of politicking, the Board of Education cut its proposed budget during a sparsely attended public forum it held on March 26, before adopting the budget as the one it will place before the public to approve or reject on April 15.

The board reduced its initial budget of $109,238,708 by $633,000, cutting the proposed 18.87-cent tax rate increase per $100 of assessed valuation to 17.5 cents. If the 17.5-cent increase is approved by voters next week, the local school tax rate will rise from $1.81 to $1.985 per $100 of assessed valuation.

That means the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 — the township’s average home assessment — will pay $2,970 in school taxes in 2003-04, up $255 from 2002-03. The owner of a home assessed at $200,000 will pay $3,960 in school taxes in 2003-04, up $340 from 2002-03.

The total tax levy was reduced from $46,944,886 to $46,311,886, and the general fund was reduced from $98,630,018 to $97,997,018.

Ted Koch, the board’s vice president, was the first to propose changes to the tentative budget by making a motion to cut paraprofessionals from kindergarten classes, cutting $300,000 from the budget.

That motion was followed by several more before the board finally recessed after its scheduled time of 11 p.m.

"I think we need to make some cuts here," said Koch, who is running for re-election to the board. "I know we’re not going to get [the tax increase] down to zero ... but we have to start looking for some economizing here."

His motion was met with words of protest from board member Gus Acevedo, who is not up for re-election this year.

"Almost 30 seconds left, and we’re going to cut elementary school paraprofessionals?" asked Acevedo rhetorically. "$300,000 is less than a penny [on the tax rate]. Why did we put it in if we didn’t need it and why are we taking it out? I’m confused, but I’m not convinced."

However, Kathleen Kelly Mallette, the board’s president, who is also up for re-election, was all too certain of the need for the cuts.

"With all due respect, I’m not convinced that the budget will pass," she said. "I’m hoping that the voters will support it, but we are in serious, serious straits here. Seniors told me they cannot afford 19 cents."

Board member Dan Gross weighed in on the debate as well.

‘The public is telling us this won’t pass," said Gross. "If we don’t make cuts, someone will do it for us."

"I couldn’t disagree more," said Acevedo. "We cannot be frightened that we won’t be re-elected. You’ve got to think about the team. Let’s be courageous."

Board member Michael Hanlon added his voice in protest to that of Acevedo.

"Why now?" asked Hanlon. "We’ve had this budget for over a month now."

"I communicated with the public and they told me to get rid of the fluff," answered Mallette.

Her answer was not acceptable to Acevedo.

"We represent people who don’t vote," he said, referring to low voter turnout in past elections for the school budget. "We have to improve the process of making a budget."