Berkeley School Budget Calls For 18-cent Drop For Homes Assessed At Township Average

Every little bit helps.

The unanimously adopted the $33,286,037 budget Thursday night, which would give homeowners assessed at the township average an extra 18 cents in their pockets this year.

The budget is $535,446 under the two percent state-mandated cap on the amount to be raised by taxation. That means Berkeley residents will not vote on the school tax levy in the November school board elections.

"It's a very tight budget," schools said. "Students come first."

Business Administrator Laura J. Venter and Vicari pulled $1,128,548 out of the applied fund balance and $600,000 from the maintenance reserve to make it all happen.

But Vicari warned the board that some of the funds used to support this year's budget were "one-time" revenues that would not be available in future years.

"You get it once," he said. "You are not going to get it again."

That also includes the savings from that he accepted when he returned to the district in April 2011.

The amount to be raised by taxation to support the budget for the 2012-2013 year is $28,346,771. Debt service - which is included in the tax levy - remains the same as last year at $1,890,425.

The school tax rate now stands at 55.04 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation, down from 55.36 cents last year.

The budget preserves the full-day kindergarten program, Vicari said.

"It helps a lot of our students," he said. "The more money we invest in every child now, the more money we save later on. If there is a problem, we can take care of it in kindergarten and first grade, not in fifth and sixth grade."

The budget also retains the half-day integrated preschool program, provides for an additional special education teacher and extends the school year for special education students, Vicari said.

"Our concern today is to give every student that walks through our doors a quality education," he said.

Berkeley falls under the state Department of Education's district factor group B, but receives less than seven percent in state aid to support the budget. Abbott districts receive far more, but have poor test scores, Vicari said.

"It's totally unfair," he said. "What they are trying to do in New Jersey is, when you fail, you get more money," Vicari said.

Close to 80 percent of the budget goes towards salaries and benefits.

The budget also sets aside $1,190,630 in capital projects for the coming year. They include a new roof for the , retrofitting the inside of the maintenance building, a new front vestibule for the and the expansion of the bus depot.

Vicari also lauded Venter, who received a certificate of excellence in financial reporting from the Virginia-based Association of School Business Officials International.

No one from the audience spoke during the public comments section of the meeing.