BY ANN GENADER
WEST MILFORD — Township of West Milford Board of Education members are on the same page and in agreement to continue to work toward creating a 2017-18 school district budget with no taxpayer increase over what is currently paid.
During a special budget meeting Tuesday, all the trustees present were firm in their conviction that every cut that they make will not have an effect on education or personnel.
Trustees present and providing input throughout the sometimes tense discussion were President James Foody, Vice President Teresa Dwyer, Will Cytowicz, Steve Drew, Nicole Fritz, Glen Huber, and Rodney Robbins. Trustees Greg Bailey and Debbie O’Brien were not present.
The preliminary budget introduced on March 16 called for $76,439,910, an increase of 1.68 percent over the current year’s budget to provide a 3.8 percent increase, or $206.37, for the taxpayer with the average $247,000 home assessment.
With business strategies recommended by Drew and Foody, the trustees were able to get within $42,000 of presenting a zero school budget increase for taxpayers. Before the meeting closed, they directed Business Administrator Barbara Francisco to find the needed amount in various accounts to reach their zero tax increase goal.
The final budget will be on the school board's April 25 agenda for a public hearing and vote for approval.
Paring it downOn Tuesday, the board needed to remove $1,474,974 to reach their goal. They were able to remove $1,395,000 from the preliminary budget by planning to participate in an Energy Saving Improvement Plan (ESIP).
Foody explained that this plan allows the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to provide a Local Government Energy Audit (LGEA). He said entering this program gives the energy auditors the ability to go throughout the school district, building by building, and determine changes that can be made to save energy and money such as changing the type of lighting in use.
“Instead of us having to ask the taxpayers for money for such improvement projects the cost will be paid by the ESIP,” Foody explained. “For example, we could have window, light and boiler replacements put in at a savings of $300,000 per year. We could then bond for $2.1 million and pay the bond cost through the amount of money being saved.”
Debate on adding human resources employeeFoody sees the need for a human resources employee and would be willing to spend $150,000 annually to hire one. He said such a person is needed for checks and balances that would serve the taxpayers well and bring some ongoing problems to an end.
Superintendent Alex Anemone said a human resources employee would be a good addition to the administrative staff as the district is being asked to meet more and more requirements by state and federal agencies. This will be discussed more after the board gets the zero taxpayer-increase accomplished.
“I’m furious about this,” said Dwyer. “I’m not voting for it. I would not vote for an additional administrator.”
Francisco said a $300,000 decrease in health costs is expected and, although it eventually can be incorporated into the budget, it will not be included in the budget by April 25. She said every budget change that the district makes must be sent to the county superintendent for approval.
Foody said he was disappointed that Francisco did not come to the meeting with the list of potential cuts and changes that she has made. He said not having that information made it harder to reach the zero increase goal. The meeting was set up for discussion but the board was not provided with suggestions of where cuts might be made, he said.
Foody said state aid to the district is up by $132,000 this year. He said for the last few years federal aid has remained flat at $1,550,000 annually.
The board agreed to remove a $15,000 bonus for Education Director Dan Novack that initially was in the budget. Anemone said this subject was discussed at an earlier personnel committee meeting, but both Foody and Dwyer said they had no recollection of that happening. It would have needed the entire board approval to be in the budget, said Foody.
What are your thoughts on the school board budget? How about on adding a human resources employee? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and share your thoughts.