School spending plan is lean

Staff cut, upgrades put on hold to make budget come in under last year’s figure, By Jennifer Knocha Hardyston — When voters go to the polls on April 20, they will be asked to approve a school district budget with no fat. The Hardyston Township school district has come up with what it calls a “maintenance” budget for 2010-2011, with no services lost, but nothing gained either. The total budget is $11.5 million, which is a decrease of $136,381 over the previous year, but with the district’s $523,000 loss in state aid, residents will still see a tax rise. The tax rate adjusted to just under 80 cents per $100 of assessed home value. With the average home in the township currently valued at $252,244, the average taxes paid will be $1,973.45. The rate last year was actually $1.20, but as assessed home values increased after the last revaluation, the tax rate decreased. Nevertheless, taxpayers can expect to pay more this year — about $50 on average. Cuts had to be made After losing 22.3 percent of its aid, and to make the budget fit under the 4 percent cap required by the state, Hardyston had to abandon some of its plans and make some cuts. The district had originally intended to add a second-grade teacher, expand the basic skills program and implement a technology plan. But these were cut. Also cut were two full-time non-instructional staff members, plans to relocate the art room and electrical upgrades at the elementary school were scrapped and the budget lines for custodial, instructional and media center supplies, summer hours for custodians and snow plowing were cut as well. There will also be no capital improvements in the district under the proposed budget. Hardyston is still looking at bus routes, trying to find a way to consolidate to save more money, and is considering instituting fees to participate in co-curricular activities and sports. They have also saved on salaries as teachers retire or go on leave, as the salary and benefit costs for the replacements tend to be lower. Overall, according to James Sekelsky, school board administrator, the district has one of the lowest per pupil costs in the area. Hardyston Township spends $12,062 per student per year, while the neighboring towns of Franklin and Hamburg spend $14,366 and $15,837 per student, respectively. The district is well under the state average of $13,097 as well.

We’re in the same boat as everybody else, weathering the storm.” Jim Sekelsky Hardyston School business administrator