School Board Approves Preliminary Budget with 2 Percent Tax Increase

The Millburn Board of Education approved a preliminary budget of $81,806,821 for the 2013-14 school year with a tax increase of 2 percent, up from last year's .65 percent.

The 2 percent tax increase will increase taxes for residents about $15 per $100,000 property valuation. For example, for a township home assessed at $500,000, the taxes will increase an estimated $76.

[For a tax analysis at each percentage increase, cut sheet and surplus analysis, please check out budget documents the district released Wednesday.]

The $81.8 million proposed budget is a $2.9 million increase from last year's budget, which had one of the lowest tax increases in recent history.

The preliminary budget passed 5-2 after a lengthy discussion between board members and the public. Board members Dr. Eric Siegel, Michael Birnberg, Regina Truitt, Rona Wenik, and Jeffrey Waters voted for the budget while Lise Chapman and Dr. Rupali Wadhwa voted against. Raymond Wong was absent. 

Chapman and Wadhwa expressed concern that not enough money was being spent on curriculum and suggested more teachers and courses. Both said they would support a tax increase but not with the current proposed budget.

Chapman added, "Can't we do better with $73 million?"

"I don't see any money being spent on curriculum," Wadhwa said. "It's all being spent on building and grounds."

Residents in attendance thanked the two board members for voicing their opinion on the proposed budget. 

Siegel disagreed and said the district has only spent money in the last two years to upgrade the district's infrastructure because it was neglected for almost 10 years.

"I don't see where we're not investing in our programs in our school district," Siegel said. "The fact is, I would say we are under investing in our facilities right now that literally need repair."

Concerns were also raised about how the surplus funds have been spent and how much the board was putting into those funds each year.

Chapman accused the board of spending money just to spend money. She said last year when the the board had excess money, with a .65 percent tax increase, the funds were transferred to capital reserve. 

Board President Waters explained part of those funds were spent and would continue to be spent on upgrades throughout the district, including the Middle School auditorium and the bleachers at the High School.

The rest he said the district would save for inflation in any expenses in the future, citing health care and special education cost as unpredictable. 

Chapman agreed that the district should have a surplus but stated she thought it was too much. She added she can't support a tax increase if it is just going to add to the district's surplus. 

Superintendent James Crisfield had presented an initial budget with the 2 percent tax rate in January while the district waited to see how much aid it would receive.

Last week, the district received news that despite the federal budget sequestration, its state aid would remain flat at $1,882,982.

The district is required to send its budget to the county for review on Thursday.