The Ridgewood Board of Education adopted its $101.2 million budget, a plan that calls for an average school tax increase of $194.65.
MAY 5, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015, 10:13 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s $101.2 million budget last week, adopting a financial proposal that supports a new administrator hire, technology updates and curriculum enhancements.
The district’s spending plan will increase school taxes by $194.65 for the average Ridgewood home assessed at $690,662. The rise in taxes represents a total increase of 2.04 percent over last year’s bills, according to Alfredo Aguilar, the schools’ business administrator.
During a brief review of the budget on April 27, Aguilar highlighted the 13 new courses planned for the middle and high schools, completion of the 1:1 Chromebook initiative at the middle school level, and maintenance projects such as window replacements at George Washington Middle School and roadway repairs at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.
He also noted various ways in which the district will attempt to curb spending, such as auditing school phone lines in an effort to convert to digital lines and cancel those that are not in use; installing additional solar panels to decrease energy expenses; and participating in a statewide consortium to purchase faster Internet access at a reduced cost.
Though some trustees said that the budget is not perfect, they agreed that it is a responsible plan that reflects the entire district and achieves the BOE’s goals.
“We have a sound budget, but we’re reminded of the challenges in front of us,” said BOE Vice President Vince Loncto, adding that the board’s responsibility is an “imperative to maintain the quality and reputation of the public schools” while “minimizing the impact on the taxpayers.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/trustees-ok-final-figures-in-2015-16-budget-1.1325596
Well there ya go people…101 million dollars…an ablolute disgrace.
What could possibly be going on down on cottage place?
I’ll tell you…their laughing all the way to the bank on YOUR dime because YOUR asleep at the wheel and have fallen for the Ridgewood speil…such a hood school system…yea, my ass. 101 MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!
And there are parents getting together to request – again – all day kindergarten.
The districe would meed more classrooms and teachers. $101 million looks cheap in comparison.
Of course they could just have their prodigys go to enrichment but then they would have to pay the bill. They would rather that the taxpayers chip in.
And poster on this blog complain about the municipal budget but not a word about this.IK wonder why?
Well recently two board members ran unopposed in the election. I guess that gives them the right to do whatever the want.
Those without children in school won’t put up with this crap.
Every empty nester that sells to a new family from NYC means more kids in school.
You suckers as soon as I educated my children we will be out of here and you will be holding the bill. We will just continue to blame the municipal budget and the village workers for the property tax increase while we rape the town.
$101 million budget…. then the parade of fees and “begging” for more $$ by the HSA sports and other activities
just bend over and take it or your neighbors might not think you are as wealthy as you pretend to be…
About the begging……it is not safe to send your children into intersections to beg for money.
Fundraising where the donor gets nothing. Sell cookies like the Girl Scouts.
Or Just increase the sports fees.
I wonder what percentage of the $101 million is either legislated by Trenton or negotiated by unions? Our BOE talks a good game but they’re pretty powerless in the face of those two forces. Want to make a change? Run for state office and get rid of tenure, then start busting unions. Where is Scott Walker when you need him?
Their not “Powerless” 10:25 when the BOED hires more teachers and admisoteraters to satisfy parents who want smaller class sizes , 13 new courses and the best “curriculum enhancements.” All buss words for more spending. So stop blaming the unions. They do not dictate hiring to the BOED. This spending in squarely on the shoulders of the BOED.
Good bait and switch 10:25. When all else fail blame the unions.
You are right 7:44 pm, where is our self appointed and self anointed Municipal Budget Complainer?
–
You would think he would be all over this discussion with his crying and complaints about Teachers pay, benefits and pensions.
–
Where is his vitriolic claim that the “Union Thugs” in the NJEA are destroying the state? Why have we not seen his post on this discussion that because of the NJEA Union Thugs businesses are leaving the N.J. and so are residents!
–
And how many times did we hear from Chucky Slime “N.J. Has the highest Property Taxes in the Country” because of the Public Safety wages and benefits, and lets not forget pensions? Shouldn’t he be here making the same claim about the BOE budget?
–
I will tell you why we hear crickets and nothing from him on this discussion, he doesn’t care about the BOE budget. That isn’t important to him. What is important to him is vilifying Public Safety employees, specifically Police and Firefighters. That’s what he is all about, nothing less and nothing more.
–
Hey, I have an idea. Let’s build a few hundred apartment buildings and bring more school age children into town.
“Thank You” 7:57 but they will here soon trying to redirect the blame on to “the unions”. Chucky Slime will not say a word about the BOED spending because his kids will be the direct recipients of that over spending .
BOED “Our property values depend on the quality of the school system and the Developers say that there will not be that many family with kinds moving in to our apartments.
Of course people will move from a one bedroom NYC apt with their two children to a 1 or 2 bedroom condo in Ridgewood. Once you have kids everything changes.
101 million! why is there such frequent administrative turnover at cottage place? everytime a new BA comes in the salary goes higher and higher not to mention all the overpaid excess employees there
Just maybe if some of you chronic complainers came out and voted in school elections it would not be so bad.
I always vote, but I am not always happy with the BOE