High School Board Adopts $39.8 Million Budget

The Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education gave final approval to the $39,801,185 budget for the 2013-2014 school year Thursday, without receiving any public comment or making any changes from its introduction March 4.

The final tally includes debt service and $456,972 in grants not reported with the tentative budget approved earlier.

The budget is 1.9 percent higher than the current year's, and includes $27,641,488 to be raised by taxes (which increase by 2 percent). Due to the differences in proportion of assessments in the school's sending districts, the tax impact breakdown varies between the townships:

Before the unanimous vote approving the budget (with Long Hill resident Peter Falzarano absent), Superintendent of Schools Frances Stromsland noted the budget accomplishes the board goals, including funding for the selection and hiring of "an exemplary superintendent," funds capital needs, expands learnig through increased use of technology, and implements strategies aimed at increasing the board's efficiency.

Business Administrator Timothy Stys said that while this year's budget worked out, the 2 percent tax levy cap may begin to cause problems in future budgets, allowing about $500,000 of "new money" to cover all increased costs.

"With $500,000, you can probably handle most your operating expenditures, but the problem is the capital expenses," he said.

A comparison of Watchung Hills Regional's per pupil spending was below nearly all comparable regional high school districts, with the exception of West Morris, which is about $700 under WHRHS' $14,506 figure.