High School Budget Trims Positions, Hits 2% Cap

For those preparing the 2011-2012 budget for Watchung Hills Regional High School, it's been an exercise in running in place.

First, the district had to look at the impacts of increased benefits costs, which are expected to rise by 14.5 percent. Then, there's the 2 percent cap on budget increases, adding pressure to cut or reduce programs at the school.

On the plus side, the district learned it would be receiving a total of $423,200 in state aid—but the state is taking back $60,000 for repayment of construction debt.

And finally, using new state-calculated costs per pupil to calculate tuition, the district will see a $400,000 reduction in the amount paid by Green Brook to send students to the school.

One step forward ... one step back.

At the end of the day, the WHRHS Board of Education was able to approve a $34.6 million budget that is at the 2 percent cap, while cutting a part-time clerical position and one guidance secretary, a bus route and about $50,000 in expenses for supplies.

For Superintendent of Schools Francis Stromsland, the most important thing, however, was what wasn't cut.

"We had to make cuts and it was very difficult," she said at Tuesday's meeting. "So we wanted to be prepared as much as we could for it."

Dr. Stromsland said among the items considered for cuts were support for co-curricular activities, three full-time teaching positions, a late bus, and about $100,000 to fund a school resource officer.

Dr. Stromsland also noted the budget includes funding for all of the school's current programs and includes $133,700 for 178 new computers and $400,000 for roof repairs and the second phase of a sewer project.

After Dr. Stromsland outlined the school's improvements and student accomplishments of the last year, Business Administrator Timothy Stys attempted to explain the tax impacts of the proposed budget for the three municipalities in the region. He noted that due to a decrease in the average assessment of properties in Warren relative to Long Hill and Watchung, residents in Warren would see a $50 decrease in the tax rate (from $0.411 per $100 in assessed value to $0.395; the average assessed value of properties for the 2010-2011 year was $605,000). Watchung property owners with property at the average assessed value of $624,683 would see an increase of $110 in the regional school portion of their property tax bills; the tax bill for the owner of a Long Hill property at the average assessed value of $393,381 would see a $154 annual increase.

The board unanimously approved the proposed budget, which will be submitted to the county school executive's office before public hearings are held at which changes to the budget can be made, and several members used the opportunity to stress the importance of getting the budget passed. The members expressed concern that after the cuts made when the budget was defeated last year, and the consequent impact in tuition that further eroded revenue, that another such round would jeopardize many programs.

"We need to find a way to find more and look ahead, not just one year like this is, but two years, three years," Harold Grossnickle said. "And talk about the kinds of things that would have to be reduced and eliminated if there is less and less money available.

"Once the revenue base is reduced, it can never be restored," he added. "We face the possibility in the future of cutting things that can't be restored, while in fact, the number of our students may increase." 

The board has set a tentative public hearing on the proposed budget for March 29, with voting scheduled for April 27 this year.

Editor's note: This article incorrectly reported the amount of potential tax savings for Warren property owners. The figure has been corrected.