HOBOKEN – Now that the $59.8 million school budget was approved by the Hoboken Board of Education by a 7-1 vote, the public will have an opportunity to vote on it on April 27.
The budget includes an approximate $822,000 decrease in the spending side from the 2010-2011 budget.
The amount to come from residents’ taxes is $36.7 million, which is approximately the same number as in the 2010-11 budget.
Approximately 60 percent of the new budget is made up of salaries and benefits, 25 percent is for charter and non public schools, and the remaining portions of the budget are for other services.
Board of Education Business Administrator Robert Davis explained that the budget is not legally allowed to be lower per state regulations. Even if the public voted down the budget, the board could not lower it, and neither could the City Council.
While most members voted yes to the new budget, Board Member Maureen Sullivan voted no, saying that the Board should be able to lower it more, and should send a message to the state. – Ray Smith