School Budget Passage Hikes Taxes 2.48 Percent

The West Orange Board of Education unanimously approved the $141,460,056 2013-14 school budget Wednesday night that will include a 2.48-percent tax increase. 

For an average assessed home at $339,000, taxes will rise approximately $177.45 with the budget's $120,538,165 tax levy.

Business Administrator Mark Kenney explained the New Jersey law limiting school districts to a 2-percent tax increase refers to the percentage increase in tax levy year-to-year, which is 1.29 percent in the budget. 

The approved budget is only a .4 percent, or $628,479, increase over last year’s budget, which came in at $140,831,577.

Interim Superintendent James O'Neill attributed the budget increase to unfunded mandates, such as new teacher and principal evaluations, professional development, rising energy and heating costs, and out-of-district tuition, which costs the district roughly $8 million a year. 

Kenney added, "We all realize the costs of goods and services go up every year. It's inevitable. So do the costs of the school district expenses such as copy paper, textbooks and supplies for students."

The budget will also include the hiring of seven new teachers district, four at the high school and three at the middle schools. 

In response to security concerns following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Conn., the budget includes monies for the installation of more camera's throughout the district and replacing locks on doors.

Additionally, the budget appropriates 11 capital projects for much-needed repairs throughout the district, totaling roughly $2.5 million, according to the administration. The repairs include:

• asbestos removal district-wide
• new boilers at Edison and Roosevelt middle schools
• generators at the high school and middle schools should they need to be used as shelters in case of another storm like Sandy or Irene
• high school track replacement
• gym floors
• concrete and roof repairs
• electrical upgrades

Earlier this month, state officials announced West Orange would receive flat funding from New Jersey this year, which gives the district a total of $6,809,707 in state aid. 

Kenney said only 5.66 of the district's revenue come from state funding. 

Check back with Patch Thursday for more from the budget presentation.