This evening the BR-BOE acted on two major fiscal and educational matters: First, it presented its total preliminary budget of $135.5 million for the next fiscal year. That amount includes $127.9 million for the operating budget; $5.5 million for debt service; and $2.1 million for what is designated as a special revenue fund.
What you mostly will be hearing and reading about in the coming months, leading up to the April, 2008 elections, is the $127.9 million associated with the schools operating budget. The State of New Jersey mandates a 4% cap on budget increases, and this budget does not exceed that cap.
This preliminary budget (preliminary budgets are rarely changed) represents an increase of 3.2% over the current budget of $123.9 million, or a rounded increase of $4.0 million.
It was a busy night. The second major item upon which the board took definitive action was the acceptance of a wage and benefits contract with the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association (BREA). The board voted unanimously to grant a three-year package effective at the start of the next fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2008, and ending on June 30, 2011.
The agreement calls for increases of 4.2%, 4.25%, and 4.35% respectively in each of the next three fiscal years, for a total three-year increase of 12.8%. The deal also continues to provide fully-paid medical benefits. The first-year wage hike of 4.2% is already included in the $127.9 million operating budget, both of which will take effect with the new fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2008.
You, the public, should you so choose, will have plenty of time to give your feedback. Public input sessions are scheduled in the evening for January 8th & 22nd, and in the morning on January 16th. The board’s finance committee will conduct an ongoing review in January and February. There will be a final public hearing on March 25, and the board will approve the budget the next day.
You, the voter, will have the final say on April 15.
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