Southern Regional School District budget rises 1.3 percent
Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2008
11:25 p.m. Update - STAFFORD TOWNSHIP - For the first time in about six years, there will not be a need for administrative or program cuts in the Southern Regional School District budget, superintendent said Wednesday evening.Instead, Superintendent Craig Henry said, the school district will have the opportunity to begin a rebuilding process as other school districts around the state struggle with a volatile economic climate.At a public hearing Wednesday night, the district's Board of Education approved a $56,716,842 budget, which is an increase of about $3.9 million from last year's budget.Of this budget, $37,110,642 will be up for voter approval on April 15.While there is a 1.3 percent, or $500,000, property tax increase from last year's budget, Henry said, the increase is 2.7 percent, or nearly $1 million, below the state-mandated 4-percent cap on increases.
"We're proud about that," Henry said.Only four of the district's seven constituent municipalities will have tax increases.In Beach Haven, taxes for a home of the average assessed value there, $657,406, will increase by $108.54. For a Stafford Township home assessed at $299,237 there will be an increase of $19.95.A Harvey Cedars home assessed at $1,117,600 will have a tax increase of $16.07. A Long Beach Township home of $890,067 will be billed an increase of $0.23.Three towns will have decreases:In Barnegat Light, the owner of a home at the average assessed value of $841,100 will see a tax bill with a decrease of $141.45. In Ship Bottom, a home of $518,186 will receive a decrease of $27.44. In Surf City, the tax on a home of $665,400 will decrease $24.44.In recent years, the school district was forced to find a way to cope with a loss of student enrollment due to the opening of Barnegat Township High School. That, coupled with cuts in state aid, required the district to cut jobs and funding for programs.But as current economic hardships are forcing other districts around the state to find ways to cut their budgets, Henry said his district is finally heading in the opposite direction."It is a very challenging nightmare that we've already been through," said Henry, adding that this year the district expects to add a supplemental math teacher in the middle school, upgrade the equipment of the district's television station from analog to digital and expand the district's autism program."It's by no means easy for us. Budgets never are," he said. "But right now we're in a much better position than we have been in quite a while."The school district will also provide an additional $30,000 to the athletic department, which, Henry said, will add between four to six assistant coaches.The goal of this, Henry said, is not to improve the sports teams, but rather to encourage more students to stay on campus after school."All the research shows that students do better in school when they're involved in extracurricular activities," said Assistant Superintendent Daniel MacPhee.Henry said the $30,000 will allow the district to accommodate an additional 200 students after school, which brings the total to 2,200.Even though things appear to be better for the district this year, Henry said, there is still a long way to go before voters decide on the budget in April."You never pack up the bat bag before the game is over," Henry said. "I'll know how I feel about this budget on April 16."There was no comment from the public on the budget.- Rob Spahr, staff writer
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