$42 Million Caldwell-West Caldwell School Budget Heads to County

The Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education will send a $42 million temporary 2013-14 school budget to the county for approval this week. 

The temporary budget approved Monday night signifies a 1.51-percent increase over last year’s budget and a 2-percent increase to the tax levy, according to Caldwell-West Caldwell Schools Superintendent James Heinegg.

Heinegg said the district faces 16 percent increases in employee health benefits, which amount to about a half-million dollars. Contractual salary increases of approximately $200,000 are another driver of the 2013-14 budget.

Business Administrator Kerry Keane said savings were found mainly in three areas, administrative costs, the return of out-of-district students, and breakage, or retirements of teachers and staff.

The reductions were made “without sacrificing any programs,” Heinegg said.

The budget step comes less than a week since the governor announced state aid would be flat for the district.

The Board of Education will hold a budget presentation at a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m., at Harrison School.

The budget will be posted on the district website prior to the meeting.

Board of Education Vice President Paula Getty presided over Monday night's meeting in Board President Mary Davidson's absence. 

Correction: The article previously stated contractual salary increases of $900,000.