Dear Editor:
The Hoboken school administration has drawn up a $62.1 million budget for 2012-13 that the state says is $165,000 more than will be necessary to meet every need and goal. This presents a perfect opportunity to give the hard-pressed taxpayers some tax relief, right? Not so fast. While Superintendent Toback is recommending that the school board make homeowners pay more than necessary, I am urging my fellow board members to do the right thing and let the taxpayers keep some of their money beginning July 1.
If the board supports the Superintendent’s plan, this is extra money that will be billed in addition to the $36.3 million in local funding that the state has determined is fine for our needs. Hoboken is no longer a “minimum levy” district. That means that after two years of not being able to go below a flat tax levy of $36,479,095, we can actually cut the levy and still keep our healthy surplus.
Sure, this doesn’t amount to much more than a few dollars in savings for each taxpayer. But it would be a sign, a symbol, proof that your school board knows this weak economy is hurting you and they don’t want to take one dime more than necessary from you. The other eight members of the board already approved 2.8 percent increases this year for the teachers, clerks and drivers unions and 3.8 percent raises over each of the next two years-10.8 percent compounded over three years. The district hasn’t had to cut any programs or lay off anyone. In fact, we’re adding three new teachers next year. It’s also true that our enrollment continues to decline, in part because of the growth of the charter schools and despite an influx of School Choice students from outside the district.
The district certainly doesn’t need the extra $164,856 because it has received several unexpected windfalls for the new year. The state increased our aid by $369,000more than anticipated. We are getting$91,748in Race to the Top money. We’re also saving $90,000 this year by eliminating next month’s board election, and $45,000 in the new year by moving it to November. There’s also the unanticipated $1.4 million bonus for School Choice students. Let’s not forget that Hoboken still ranks second in NJ only to Asbury Park in K-12 per pupil spending: $24,092 per pupil in 2009-10, the last year final figures are available from the state.
It should be noted that while the tax levy has stayed flat, the school tax rates have risen during that period because of the city’s shrinking tax base. Property tax bills for the schools have climbed 3.83 percent since 2009, from a rate of 1.176 per $100 of assessed value, to the current rate of 1.221.
Because there’s no longer an election in April, residents won’t be allowed to vote on the budget. But there will be a public hearing and board vote on the budget on Tuesday, March 27, at 7 pm. I urge concerned taxpayers to come to the meeting and let the board know that enough is enough.
Maureen Sullivan
School Board member