The Princeton Regional Schools Board of Education has announced its preliminary 2006-2007 budget. The $71,926,131 represents an increase of some $3 million (or 4.35 percent) over the approximately $68.9 million for the current 2005-2006 school year.
The preliminary budget, which was set to be presented to the Board of Education last night (prior to Town Topics press time), was outlined at a public session of the Finance Committee on Monday. It includes staffing cuts and increases in property taxes in both the Borough and the Township.
The finance committee has been working for the past two months on the budget, which assumes the same state aid figure (of $3.5 million) as last year, since the state has not yet released a figure for 2006-07. The state has capped public school budget growth at 4.04 percent, based on the regional Consumer Price Index (CPI).
"All major costs (energy, salaries, benefits, transportation) have increased at a rate higher than the CPI, so cuts are needed as well as a realignment of dollars," said Superintendent of Schools Judith A. Wilson on Monday. "We have a balanced budget, with more dollars aligned to achieving our goals, but not without cuts."
Board adopted goals designed to impact the learning of each student in the district are: to build a connected PK-12 curriculum, to develop a system to closely monitor student achievement, and to develop a comprehensive system for professional development connected to student achievement. Cuts made in order to meet the state-mandated cap amount to $2,264,708.
Ten of the district's full-time staff positions are to be cut in the areas of classroom support, secretarial and administrative services, and maintenance, including three teaching aides. Other cuts will be made to transportation costs so that more of the district's transportation needs will be handled in-house rather than by outside contractors.
Increased Rates
In addition to cuts in personnel, the budget proposes an increase in property taxes in both the Township and the Borough. The amount raised from property taxes would be fixed at $55,009,515. Adopting the budget cap means a 0.07 percent tax increase for the Borough and a 0.11 percent tax increase for the Township. To the average taxpayer this means that for a home assessed at $350,000 in the Borough, the annual increase would be $248.75. For a home assessed at $380,000 in the Township, the annual increase would amount to $409.60 (School Board figures).
"This budget supports our mission. We have not eliminated any critical programs," said Ms. Wilson. "The cuts will not affect the student/teacher ratio in our schools. Class sizes will not change and we are not getting rid of any programs except for one pilot program."
The pilot program referred to is AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination), now in its third year at John Witherspoon Middle School. The program enrolls about 30 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
According to a Budget Development document circulated at Monday's Finance Committee meeting, the cuts "underscore the increased importance of the Princeton Education Foundation, alumni gifts, community private sector support and endowments" in maintaining "an exemplary school system that yields great results."
Commenting on the budget on Monday, chairman of the Finance Committee Alan Hegedus criticized state policymakers: "These cuts are the inevitable result of unfunded state mandates that I have witnessed over the last four or five years. We are being managed out of Trenton. So far we have been able to manage our way through, but there will come a time when the excellence associated with Princeton Schools will be diminished." Mr. Hegedus cited "financial mismanagement in Trenton."
A public hearing on the budget will take place on Tuesday, March 28, at 8 p.m. in the cafeteria of John Witherspoon Middle School.
Princeton voters will cast their ballots on the district budget as well as on school-board candidates on April 18.