Garwood Votes Yes on School Budget and Second Question Funding Non-Mandated Programs

For the past two years, the school budget has not passed in the borough of Garwood, but tonight, with 446 voting in support of the 2011-2012 budget and 191 opposed, it passed. The second question regarding raising funding for non-state mandated programs also passed with 415 "Yes" votes and 220 "No" votes. There were a total of 650 voters in this year's election.

The budget's resulting tax levy of $6,651,935 will translate into an approximately $34 decrease for the average household from last year and the second question will raise taxes approximately $72 per household, leading to a net increase of $38 with both approved.

The second question asked if an additional $134,744 should be raised "to be used exclusively for extra-curricular activities including athletics; additional periods of art, music and full day kindergarten and the transportation and benefit costs associated with these programs." These activities include middle-school sports, elementary art taught by a certified teacher, instrumental music, the seventh grade Stokes Outdoor Education program, the Board’s share of funding for the eighth grade play and full-day kindergarten.

The programs did not fit under the 2 percent cap mandated by the state. Had the second question not passed, these programs would have been cut from the district. 

“We began exploring (the second question) almost immediately,” said Adele Lewis, president of the Board of Education “This decision was not made lightly nor with disregard to the financial difficulties that we all face.”

Also tonight, the two uncontested Board of Education candidates on the ballot, Aaron Watkins and incumbent Christine Guerriero were elected, as was write-in candidate Linda Koenig, to fill the three open BOE seats. They will serve three-year terms. 

To meet the budget, two teaching positions yet to be determined will be eliminated. Quigley said that every line item was reduced, including reduced funding for textbooks, legal fees and no increase in teacher salaries.

Last year, the 2010-2011 school budget was voted down by the public, and Garwood council formed a committee of council members and BOE members to analyze the budget. The budget was reduced by approximately $9,350 and then approved.