Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tentative Bridgewater-Raritan School Budget Due for a Rework.

On Wednesday, April 27th, residents of Raritan and Bridgewater will be voting on the budget for the new school year beginning July 1st, 2011, as well as for the selection of three School Board members. 

On January 25th, Superintendent Michael Schilder, speaking on behalf of the School Board, presented a tentative budget of $127.9 million to the public, one which has seen no changes since then. 

That budget number included a projection which assumed a loss of state aid.  At the time, Schilder indicated that no alternative budget scenarios would be presented to the public, until definitive state aid information is forthcoming from Trenton.

Yesterday, when Governor Christie presented his proposed state budget to the legislature, he included provisions for an increase in state aid to school districts, while indicating that all districts would receive an increase, but that none would see a bump in aid of more that 1% of its total budget. 

Actual state aid numbers are due to be released to individual school districts today.  An early morning call placed to the office of Peter Starrs, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, confirmed that the Bridgewater-Raritan District had not yet received any indication of its aid number.

However, a full 1% hike in aid to the B-R School District – if it is forthcoming – would be approximately $1.3 million.  

No comments: