School Budgets Get Set This Week

Local school districts must submit proposed budgets by March 7, so when the Warren Township and Watchung Hills Regional boards of education meet Monday, the main action will be on finalizing the proposed spending plans.

With little change in state aid this year, the budgets may hold little surprise—Warren's Business Administrator Patricia Leonhardt noted the township's total tax assessment increased by more than 2 percent which will more than offset the maximum possible increase the district's tax cap would allow.

The picture is more complicated for Watchung Hills Regional, since Warren's tax rate is also affected by adjustments based on the student enrollment at the school, in a formula set by the state Department of Education.

Both boards meet at 7 p.m. Monday—we'll bring coverage of the meetings Monday, as well as all of the week's news.