School Budget Rejected, May Face More Cuts

The Wyckoff School District could see further reductions to the 2010-11 budget after voters narrowly rejected the spending plan, which already included staff and program cuts.

More than 30 percent of registered voters went to the polls Tuesday and defeated the  by a mere 22 votes, 1,724 to 1,702. The proposed $31,808,113 tax levy would have increased bills by $290, based on a home assessment of $807,000. It remains to be seen how the 2010-11 plan will affect local tax bills, as the Township Committee will now be charged with reviewing the plan and potentially suggesting further cuts.

Additionally, voters elected residents Catherine Runge, Jill Mortimer and Diane Sobin to three-year seats on the seven-member Board of Education. Runge and Mortimer had the benefit of ballot positions while Sobin came out of a field of four declared candidates for a write-in position.

The budget had the support of voters in Districts 1 to 4, while Districts 5 to 8 all voted against the spending plan. The margins were close throughout the township, with the greatest difference of opinion found in District 4, which recorded 29 more yeas to nays, 204 to 175. Additionally, 34 residents who voted by absentee ballot supported the budget, while 30 voted it down.

However, all results are unofficial until certified.

The rejected budget was sharply reduced from its original draft, created when the school board was expecting a 15 percent reduction in its state aid figure. Instead, Wyckoff saw the state withhold its entire formula aid package, worth $1.45 million. The news, coming just days before the district had to submit its plans to the county superintendent, set off a round of cost-cutting, with the board choosing to apply a portion of the aid lost toward the tax levy. 

Now, Township Committee will have to establish a subcommittee to work with the board on the spending plan. The governing body members could implement further spending cuts or choose to maintain the $31.8 million tax levy. 

The school district must provide the Township Committee with the following information, according to the Department of Education:

• A line-item budget listing each item by code with a description, including actual expenditures for the previous school year and proposed expenditures for 2010-11, with explanations;

• A copy of the school district's annual progress report, most recent annual audit and applicable portions of the Comparative Spending Guide and School Report Card;

• Complete number of current staff and projected staff for the following school year, and salary schedules for all employees;

• Rationale for the major line-item increases or decreases in the budget.

The district must submit its information to the township by April 28, two days after election results are certified, according to the DOE. The governing body will set a revised tax levy amount for the school board to implement, and the Township Committee must decide on the new levy figure by May 19.

After the decision is rendered, the Board of Education has jurisdiction in determining what items to adjust in order to meet the new budget total, although it also can theoretically appeal to the state should it disagree with the township's tax levy figure.

Should the governing body choose to slash the tax levy, the board would have to find areas in which to cut after several undesired reductions were made to make up for the state aid loss. 

The rejected budget had already incorporated the loss of 10 staffers, including two Eisenhower Middle School teachers. Capital expenditures had been slashed, while interscholastic sports were eliminated. Among the 10 staffers the Wyckoff board planned to let go were two world language teachers, prompting the board to explore ways it can incorporate such lessons into the school day without the benefit of dedicated teachers. Additionally, the board planned to have ESL not be offered at all of the elementary schools, instead choosing to designate two of the four schools as receiving districts for students who need extra language help.

Runge was the top vote-getter among the board candidates, garnering support from 1,808 residents, unofficially. Mortimer, who also was on the ballot, received 1,755 votes. 

Sobin was written in on 221 ballots, according to the clerk's office, besting Talin H. Young, who received 187 write-ins. Thomas Rousseau was close behind with 164 write-ins, while Deborah Chen received 95 votes.

Runge, Mortimer and Sobin will take their seats when the board reorganizes on Monday, joining newly appointed members Lisa Martone and Anthony Robert Francin, as well as incumbents Elizabeth DiGregorio and Thomas Giamanco.