By Donald Webster, Board Finance Chair
The Manchester Township Board of Education has finalized its proposed school budget for Fiscal Year 2007/2008 (7/2007-6/2008. We believe that we continue to provide our students with a quality education at a reasonable cost to the community. This is evidenced by the achievements of our students and the fact that our budgeted cost per student remains well below the statewide average. The board has worked very hard to limit our spending wherever possible. Our proposed budget meets both the new State 4% Spending Cap and 2% surplus requirements. Unfortunately, the recently announced 3% State Aid increase does not make up for five years of flat State funding, continued inflationary pressures, increases in our student enrollment, additional unfunded education mandates, and the continued erosion of Federal education funding. Our budget can best be described as a maintenance budget with no new programs added.
It should be noted that the additional TARA (Targeted At-Risk Aid) funding identified in the media to Manchester and other districts with high numbers of disadvantaged students has been restricted by the State for new at-risk student programming only. This $135,500 (+2.2%) in state aid cannot be used for property tax relief and is not included in our budget, since districts must get permission from the State before they can spend the money on approved programs to improve at-risk student achievement.
The Board continues to address a growing number of significant financial and educational issues beyond its control that directly affect the budget. The percentage of our budget now supported by the State of New Jersey is only 14.3%. Due in part to our large senior citizen population, Manchester continues to be viewed by the State of New Jersey as a wealthy community under the current State Aid funding formula. This situation is clearly at odds with our school district’s classification by the State as a district factor group “B” for the socio-economic make-up of our students and their parents. Group “B” is one group removed from the heavily State supported Abbott districts, yet we receive nowhere near the level of State funding they receive. It is also interesting to note that the promised revisions to this faulty school funding formula have failed to materialize yet again this year. This is why we continue to receive a significantly smaller percentage (14%) of State Aid support than the typical New Jersey school district (41%).
The total proposed school budget for 2007/2008 is $44,826,616. The budget represents an increase of $1,653,202 or 3.8% over the revised 2006/2007 budget. Much of this increase reflects dramatic increases in basic fixed operational costs such as fuel & utilities, property & liability insurance, textbooks & educational supplies, special education services, health insurance and additional unfunded State and Federal mandates. The General Fund Local Tax Levy (the portion of the budget supported by local taxpayers) is $32,772,653 or an increase $1,571,730 over last year. The Debt Service portion of the local tax levy will be $2,119,492. Debt Service represents the amount of money needed to pay for school construction projects and capital improvements previously approved by the public. The budget will be supported next year by State Aid of $6,404,162 (14.3% of the budget) and Federal Aid of $948,334 (2.1% of the budget).
The local property tax rate for calendar year 2007 is calculated to be $1.622/$100 of assessed valuation. This tax rate represents an increase of 5.3 cents ($0.053/$100) over last year. Our school tax rate will continue to remain lower than the rate paid by virtually all other school districts in both Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $53 more per year or an additional $4.42/month in local property taxes to support our schools.
It is important to recognize that this budget addresses the unique needs of Manchester Township's growing and ethnically diverse student population. We are projecting that we will educate 3,182.5 students (an increase of 54) next year. The cost to local taxpayers has been carefully considered during the budget process. Administrators, teachers and our support service staff have all provided significant input into the budget process. Cost saving measures including the refinancing of debt, cooperative group purchasing, creative class scheduling at the Middle School, and the sharing of services with other local school districts and our municipality were achieved wherever possible. All current programs and services would be maintained under the proposed budget. The budget includes the following key points:
· Summer Jump Start Programs will continue to be offered to students.
· There will be selective replacement of worn out textbooks and school materials.
· New State and Federal education mandates will be implemented as required.
· Ongoing physical plant repairs will be undertaken at all our schools in order to keep them in the safest possible condition for students and staff.
As you can see, the school district continues to address the essential educational needs of our students in a fiscally responsible manner even under extremely difficult economic circumstances.
By Dr. William E. DeFeo, April 2007
The financial crisis in New Jersey continues unabated. New Jersey’s financial woes continue to negatively impact school districts throughout the state. The three percent (3%) increase in State Aid does not eliminate the negative impact caused by five years of no increases. It is important to note that an additional 2.2% will be distributed after the elections and is targeted for at risk students.
A few moments reviewing the budget history of the last nine years makes the picture quite clear. Manchester’s overall property tax, including municipal and county taxes, is the third or fourth lowest out of 33 townships in Ocean County. Manchester’s total cost per pupil, taken from the State Report Card, is $1,831 less than the State average. This is all being accomplished while Manchester receives 14% in State Aid and the State average is in excess of 40%. In order to try to offset a small portion of this inequity in State Aid, the district has joined with the municipality in a “Shared Services” program. This would enable both entities to reduce expenditures through cooperative efforts in areas aimed at sharing responsibility and cost.
The people of Manchester have recognized the district’s fiscal integrity by passing seven budgets and a thirty million dollar school referendum in the past nine years.
At the same time, the district continues to move in a positive direction on several other fronts. Security has been upgraded at all schools with cameras and a buzzer system on front doors. Professional development programs will be offered to staff on child abuse, harassment and suicide prevention. In the academic area, the high school made everyone very proud to be a part of Manchester by achieving all 40 indicators on the AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) criteria of the No Child Left Behind regulations. The focal point of the 40 indicators is the HSPA State test administered to high school students. The elementary and middle schools have also experienced considerable success in the various testing programs that focus on the general population.
All of our schools have demonstrated the caring attitude necessary to foster a feeling of community within our township. Whether it’s raising funds for a needy cause, volunteering to assist those in need of help or visiting nursing homes to entertain the residents of these facilities, community service is a cherished value of our school system.
The district continues to offer a quality education at a reasonable price to its students. But the reality is that a budget defeat will make it very difficult to maintain that quality.
Everyone—teachers, administrators, parents, students and the community in general—have worked very hard to make Manchester Township School District a special place. Let’s join together and maintain that quality. Please vote on April 17, 2007.
