School Board to Present and Vote on Budget

The Lacey Board of Education will present the school district’s budget in the Lecture Hall at Lacey Township High School on Monday, March 26 at 6 p.m.

“Everyone is encouraged to attend to learn more about our budget,” Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower said.

The , which includes a $99 increase to the average homeowner, was approved and sent to the Ocean County Superintendent of Schools on Monday, March 5.

After boasting a zero percent tax increase for two straight years, the school board is proposing a 1.7 percent increase in the local tax levy. Voters will be unable to vote on the increase this year since the board to move elections to November and forego the tax levy ballot.

The proposed operating budget includes a $424,335 decrease since last year. It includes the for 2012-13, the from 2011 that the district deferred to the upcoming school year and $1 million for solar renewable energy credits, Business Administrator James Savage said.

While some areas saw decreases in the proposed budget, including health services, speech and guidance, others saw increases.

“Across the district we’re consolidating things to be more efficient,” said Eric Schubiger, board vice president. “We’re not in the position to make cuts.”

The district will be “streamlining” certain areas throughout the district, he said.

“The focus this year is on technology, curriculum and building improvements,” Schubiger said. The decision to concentrate on those areas was made by utilizing staff and district comments, he said.

Monday’s budget meeting, in which the board will vote to adopt the budget, will present what the new budget provides and give residents the opportunity to ask questions, Brower said in a letter to the community. It will also include a video presentation.

“The proposed budget reflects a process of careful and deliberative decision-making ensuring efficiencies at all levels while preserving and enhancing our instructional programs, the quality and quantity of our extra-curricular programs, technology, and facilities upgrades and maintenance,” she said.

See the attached PDF for a copy of the proposed budget.

Below are the proposed figures for the budget:

Budget Category

2010-2011 Actual

2011-2012 Revised

2012-2013 Anticipated

Local Tax Levy

38,379,406

39,413,121

40,090,630

Total Local Repayment of Debt

5,065,599

5,122,788

5,028,138

Total Operating Budget

57,593,870

64,642,232

64,216,897

Total General Current Expense

57,211,686

64,082,522

63,728,015

Total Expenditures

65,641,245

71,095,320

70,599,335