PLUMSTED — The Plumsted Board of Education has introduced and adopted a tentative budget of $25.7 million for the 2009- 10 school year. A public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m. March 31. Residents may comment on the budget or ask questions about it at that time.

Changes to the spending plan may be made up until the public hearing is conducted.

"This budget reflects the goals of the Plumsted Board of Education to move the district forward while maintaining the same services, programs and teaching staff as this current school year," said Superintendent of Schools Mark DeMareo.

The 2009-10 budget is made up of three components, according to Business Administrator Frank E. Gripp III. The general fund amounts to $22.8 million; the special revenue fund totals $427,002; and the debt service fund amounts to $2.5 million.

The 2009-10 general fund tax levy is proposed at $9.2 million and that is what residents will be asked to approve in the April 21 school election. The 2008-09 general fund tax levy totaled $8.9 million.

The debt service tax levy for 2009-10 will be $1.5 million. Residents do not vote on the debt service tax levy.

The debt service is the repayment of outstanding loans the district owes.

According to information provided by the school district, the owner of a home that is assessed at $400,000 will pay about $3,920 in school taxes in 2009-10. That is an increase of about $74 over the 2008-09 school tax bill.

DeMareo expressed gratitude after hearing Gov. Jon Corzine announce that he would increase the school district's state aid package by 5 percent.

"Plumsted will receive an additional $559,843 from state aid for a total of $11,756,712. That is an increase of 4.94 percent compared to the 2008-09 school year. This increase in state aid will help us to maintain educational programs for approximately 1,850 students," the superintendent said.

The tentative budget calls for a few new items for the 2009-10 school year, including a transition program that will have one teacher and one aide; additional aides - IEP driven; a second coach for middle school sports; reinstatement of yearbook advisers for the primary school and elementary schools; and a nine-passenger bus that will replace an existing van with more than 200,000 miles of use. The van will be leased at a yearly rate of $7,400.