Prelim School Budget Look Shows Decrease in Revenue

Unless the River Edge school district begins receiving its full share of state aid, the Board of Education could be facing a a hefty shortfall based on current projected revenues.

"We're trying to be as realistic as possible for what numbers we do have," Superintendent Dr. Tova Ben Dov said. "This is based on the necessary items for the district to run."

The current 2011-12 budget with $310,613 in state aid is $14,625,783. And while the projected 2012-13 school budget decreases to $14,551,184 the tax levy at a 2% cap would increase by $259,674 to cover a decrease in revenue.

The district is projected to bring in $568,221 in revenue from tuition to the Building Bridges and Integrated Preschool programs, the Region V and After School Program fees and interest earned.

"These are rough estimates based on the current year's budget," Board Administrator Debbie Trainor said. "A lot of these numbers could change."

Items for the district are split between what is mandatory and what is necessary. Mandatory expenses for the school system include electricity, schoolteachers and administrators, textbooks, the special education program and child study team and the Building Bridges program.

Topping the necessary items list was a variety of maintenance projects for the Building and Grounds crew including repainting the school gymnasiums, replacing outer doors and exterior lights and installing additional security cameras.

Additional necessary items that the district prefers to have but does require are the discovery lab, the gifted and talented program, class trips, world language classes and musical instruments.

"At the December 7 meeting we will present our technology plan and major facility projects," Ben Dov said. "Then on December 14, we'll go over the mandatory budget items."

A full presentation of the proposed budget will be held for the public on Saturday, Jan. 28 at New Bridge Center.