BOE Budget to be Sprint, Not Marathon

The process used to finalize the Board of Education budget will be more of a sprint than a marathon.

BOE officials are mandated to deliver a balanced budget by March 30 for inclusion on the April 20 school election ballot. The budget will be presented to the county schools superintendent on March 23 and finalized on the 30th. The budget will take into account Gov. Chris Christie's decision to slash school aid by up to $4.25 million. The current budget proposals prepared by the BOE anticipated school aid being .

Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan said she will be spending today in meetings with the district's administrators reviewing every line item in the budget. She said that no line item is off the table for potential cuts. This process will be replicated with the school district's unions.The board's finance committee is meeting on Thursday evening and more meetings are likely planned in the next week.

The budget will likely be discussed at Saturday morning's meeting of the district's long range planning council, which is in the process of developing a new strategic plan. The Board of Education is slated to meet on March 23 and 30 and budget discussions are expected to dominate the agenda both nights. These meetings are currently the only public comment officially scheduled on the spending plan.

Dolan said she is welcoming comments from the community on ways to cut the budget. She said comments can be sent to her at the BOE's Elm Street headquarters.

The budget will go before voters on April 20 with several public forums scheduled in April to discuss the final budget. In the event that residents decide to vote down the budget, action will shift to the Municipal Building where the Town Council will assume control of the budget.

The Town Council will be charged with reviewing the spending plan and deciding the total tax levy for the school district. The Council can then recommend spending cuts as well. The BOE will decide how to make the budget meet any revenue cuts made by the Council. Mayor Andy Skibitsky indicated Tuesday night that the Council is prepared to handle the school budget in the event the vote turns negative.

The school budget has only fallen into the hands of the Town Council three times in the last 30 years, the last time being in 2005. The budget also failed in public vote in 1991 and once in the 1980s.

"I am thankful that Dr. Dolan has reached out to the supervisors and association presidents," BOE President Ginny Leiz said. "We have strong, resourceful people at our disposal."