$137M budget will have public hearing March 25
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - Residents will have a chance to comment on the Jackson Board of Education's proposed budget for the 2008-09 school year during a public hearing that will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 25 in the FineArts Center at JacksonMemorial High School.

On March 4 the board introduced a $137.5 million budget to fund the operation of the K-12 school system from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

The 2007-08 budget totaled just under $133 million and the school tax rate increased by 4.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, according to information provided by the Board of Education.

Changes to the tentative 2008-09 budget may be made by the board and the administration through the end of the month.

On April 15 residents will be asked to approve a $65.3 million tax levy to support the $137.5 million budget. The budget proposes an increase in the school tax rate of 7.74 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

Jackson's current school tax rate is about $2.27 per $100 of assessed valuation so with the full proposed increase in place the tax rate would rise to slightly more than $2.34 per $100 of assessed valuation.

With a tax rate of $2.34 in place, the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 would see his school tax rise from about $3,405 in 2007-08 to about $3,510 in 2008-09. The owner of a home assessed at $250,000 would see his school tax rise from about $5,675 in 2007-08 to about $5,850 in 2008-09. The owner of a home assessed at $350,000 would see his school tax rise from about $7,945 in 2007-08 to about $8,190 in 2008-09.

School taxes are one part of the overall property tax bill. The property tax bill also includes municipal taxes and Ocean County taxes.

The Jackson School District will receive $52 million in state aid for 2008-09, an increase of $1.7 million from 2007-08.

According to administrators, much of the increase in the budget for 2008-09 is due to the fact that Jackson Liberty High School will have a senior class for the first time in September. New teachers and materials are needed for the first time 12thgrade level.

The district is also facing increases in fuel for transportation services and in its heating costs.

The tentative budget includes curriculum updates in the areas of social studies, technology and special education in keeping with the district's five-year curriculum plan

School board President Marvin Krakower said the budget aims to protect class size and maintain the programs that serve students.

Superintendent of Schools Thomas Gialanella said, "Budgeting is a process that involves many different factors and decisions. Between now and the end of the month we will be continuing to work on identifying ways we might be able to save money and to possibly reduce the impact even further."

Krakower agreed that the work is far from over.

"We are not done looking for ways to improve this budget and its bottom line. We have an obligation to our students as well as to the taxpayers of Jackson and we take all of our responsibilities very seriously," he said.

The board will also determine whether a second ballot question should be used to ask voters to place items back in the budget that have been cut in recent years. These items could include coaching positions that were cut two years ago, positions that were cut last year and funds for transportation staff so that starting times at the elementary schools can be reinstated and no longer staggered.

"Regrettably, these services and positions are not included in the proposed budget for 2008-09," Krakower said. "We were not able to fund them in 2007-08 and we are not in a position to fund them in the operating budget for 2008-09. If the voters of Jackson decide they want them, they will need to vote for them separately."

Krakower said he hopes residents realize there are consequences each year when the tax levy that has been proposed by the board is not approved.

"Year after year we are forced to make cuts after the budget is defeated," he said. "And with the state cap (on how much property taxes may be raised each year) our hands are tied. So year after year we end up looking at a growing number of positions and services we wish we could reinstate. It's frustrating."

In order to be approved, a second ballot question would have to receive affirmative votes from 60 percent of the people who vote in the election.

Polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 15.