Township Board OKs $34.6 Million Budget For Voting

With little fanfare—and few attending the public hearing—the Warren Township Board of Education gave final approval to the proposed $34.6 million school budget for the 2011-2012 school year.

The unanimous vote at Monday's meeting sends the budget to the county for placement on ballots for voting April 27.

The budget includes a 1.6 percent increase in the total amount to be raised by taxes, adding about $98 to the average annual property tax bill.

The vote followed a budget presentation by Superintendent of Schools Tami Crader, reiterating highlights of the budget in which she said the budget was "responsible and responsive."

"It's responsible because it not only funds our next year programs, but it looks ahead to the protection of our assets and resources," she said. "It's responsive because we listened to the community—you came to us and said 'Don't cut programs if that's at all possible' and that's what we intended to do."

She noted any cuts or changes were made "as far from the children" as possible.

Dr. Crader said she has been pointing out at presentations she's made to groups the annual change is "less than the cost of a pizza" per month.

The only public comment came from Laura Mandell, who asked what cuts the district might make if the budget does not win voters' approval. Dr. Crader said the board would have to "go back to the drawing board."

"We have begun prioritizing items that would be crucial for the next few years, but we have completed those planning documents, so we would have to go back and talk about it again," Dr. Crader said.

Mandell also praised the board's work on the budget and its efforts to maintaining the district's programs.