Long Branch School District Budget Approved, Shows Small Tax Increase

The Long Branch School Board of Education adopted its 2012-13 budget during Wednesday night's meeting, and, although the total budget has decreased, it still shows a tax increase.

Long Branch Superintendent Michael Salvatore said he was happy with next school year's budget.

"We have a budget decrease despite costs going up," Salvatore said.

The 2012-13 budget totals $90,768,046 a $197,684 decrease from the current budget. Of that total, $32,186,556 will be raised by the local tax levy, a $615,000 increase from last year.

The board was allowed to vote on and approve the budget without a public vote, because the total tax levy increase is below the state-mandated tax levy cap. Governor Chris Christie recently passed legislation this year that allows schools to do so.

Salvatore said that a person who owns a home valued at $475,000, their tax increase would total $69 next year.

He said he was also proud of the fact that the district was able to lower its budget and keep services and staff with a reduction in federal and state aid for the school district.

"If you don't invest in education, all the other programs mean nothing," Salvatore said.

He said the district is trying to "do more with less," and that when a person retires, the district makes an effort to not fill that spot if possible.

Salvatore said he is proud of the district's green energy savings which have come from adding solar panels to many of the schools. The district has received $395,000 in solar energy credits through the use of the solar panels, according to a budget spreadsheet.

Employee costs and benefits, which total $73,090,291, represent just over 80 percent of the total budget. Out of district tuition is the second highest cost, at $2,870,085, followed closely by utilities at $2,673,008.