Township Council Proposes $750,000 School Budget cut (NJ)

May 14, 2010

A meeting between West Milford Board of Education and Township of West Milford Council representatives, described as "very productive" by Councilman Dan Jurkovic, has resulted in a $750,000 school budget cut "compromise" proposal, Jurkovic reported at the May 5 Council workshop.

A Republican majority was ready at the meeting to act on a formal recommendation to the BOE to cut that amount from the defeated $70 million school budget for 2010-2011.

However there was strong feeling from parents in the audience and Councilman Robert Nolan that there had not been an announcement that the budget would be on the agenda and they wanted no Council action until there was a meeting to give the public opportunity to discuss the proposed cuts.

Councilwoman Marilyn Lichtenberg agreed with Nolan in favoring a special meeting for public comment. Former BOE President/Mayor Carl Richko said the defeated budget with its state cuts is a very emotional issue and he favored giving the public opportunity to comment.

Also agreeing was former Councilman Andy Gargano who said the people should chime in and it is prudent on the Council’s part to let people have their say.

That meeting for the public to give their opinions was scheduled for May 12. The Council will not take official action until the next regular Council meeting on May 19.

The proposed cuts took $100,000 from the accounts involving additional retirements. There was $70,000 removed from the special class aides account and $30,000 from special class aides benefits; $20,000 from administrative salaries; $130,000 from supervisor’s salaries; $360,000 from employee contributions to health benefits and $50,000 from contracted transportation (Jordon to Our Lady Queen of Peace School which is being closed).

Representing the Council on the joint committee with Jurkovic was Councilman Michael Ramaglia. Trustees from the BOE meeting with them were John Aiello, Barbara Carter, Marcie Babbitt and Tim Foley.

Jurkovic shared there had been $3.9 million cuts in the $70 million budget that called for a $45 million tax levy.

He said the budget started with $1.2 surplus that was supposed to be rolled in and Governor Christie cut it. Then there were $3.3 million cuts in March but $600,000 did come back.

Jurkovic said the teachers "did the right thing" in being the first to give back $350,000 employee contributions to the Health benefits account. He felt in doing that they were saying, "Don’t hit us too hard."

Councilman Phil Weisbecker noted in the past when school budgets failed the Council would pay to have a professional budget expert tell them where to make cuts. He said that money was saved this year through having the joint meeting for the study of line items.

He wanted the Council to vote on the cuts without a public hearing as was done in the past. Gary Steele responded that the way things were done in the past was not always great and said it was not appropriate to rush through things with a sound budget defeat and heavy voter turnout being a fact.

Jurkovic said some trustees wanted more money cut from the budget than the Council suggested.

Councilman Robert Nolan questioned what will happen if the BOE makes a final decision to cut more money than the Council recommended. Attorney Fred Semrau said the BOE has a right to file an appeal of the Council’s decision.

The Council can recommend an amount to cut but the BOE does not have to eliminate the items suggested by the Council and can choose others.

Jurkovic explained that Howard Heller, director of special services, said there is not a problem with the recommended special education cuts as he feels there are certain areas where aides can double up. He said West Milford Special Services are the best around and are contracted by other communities.

A group of parents whose children attend Paradise Knoll School were in the audience and very concerned about talk circulated that the school will be closed.

Jurkovic said the Council recommendation has not included closing a school but they have no control over what the Board of Education will choose to do.

Jurkovic shared that public schools serve as shelter in time of emergency and Paradise Knoll School is the only shelter for the Oak Ridge and Newfoundland areas. He indicated the township might have interest because of that fact.

Ramaglia said capital money has to be put into the school and a public hearing must be held before any decision to close it.