Spotswood budget calls for nearly 10-cent hike
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD - Residents would see their school taxes rise by 9.7 cents per $100 of assessed valuation based on this year's school budget.

The Board of Education adopted a 2007-08 school budget that, if approved by voters Tuesday, would raises the tax rate by about 6 cents for the operating portion of the budget, and 3.7 cents for capital projects.

The increase means that the average borough home would pay close to $245 more in school taxes for the next school year.

Board President Richard O'Brien said taxpayers are being asked for 4 percent more than last year, but $18,000 less than that which is allowed by the state cap on spending increases.

The board faces an uphill battle in getting the budget approved by voters, as Spotswood residents have defeated the budget every year since 1994. But O'Brien stood by the this year's budget of $22.25 million.

"Even though our fixed costs are increasing over $1 million from last year," he wrote in an e-mail, "we will still deliver a value-driven education through some cuts, savings from last year, and our continued use of shared services."

A number of items in the operating budget are pushing the tax rate higher. Among those are smaller classes at the Schoenly School, more library books and materials for the media center, and increased math instruction at the Memorial School, O'Brien said.

The district has made a concerted effort to improve its curriculum and class selection, and officials have said their desire to improve in such areas was a main factor in hiring new Schools Superintendent John Krewer. Krewer replaced Anthony Vaz, who retired last year.

The district stuck to its word by placing 10 advanced-placement classes for the high school in the budget, and O'Brien listed that as another factor driving the increase. Other items include an extensive co-curricular program and expanded athletics.

As for the increase in capital outlay, O'Brien wrote that about $270,000 of it will go toward "much needed and delayed" projects at the Schoenly, Appleby and high schools. Those projects aim to improve students' "safety, health and security," and include fire alarm upgrades, electrical wiring, CCTV completion and masonry projects. The district also plans to replace gymnasium bleachers at the high school.

"We believe this budget addresses our mission of taking the Spotswood school district from a very good district to one of the premier districts in Middlesex County, while balancing the needs of the taxpayer - the residents of Spotswood," O'Brien said.