State Aid Minimizes Cuts in 2011-2012 Tinton Falls School Budget

An unexpected infusion of state aid has allowed the to adopt a budget that makes far fewer cuts than originally anticipated and is $678,303 less than last year.

The board adopted a tentative budget on Monday night for 2011-2012 with a general fund of $23.26 million and a tax levy staying within the state mandated 2 percent cap.

According to Superintendent John Russo, an unanticipated increase in state aid—the district netted about $248,998—allowed the district to reinstate programs and staff that had been cut at the beginning of the month.

The district will reinstate a middle school science teacher and a physical education teacher from part time to full time positions and contribute more funding to co-curricular and athletic programs to decrease parental contribution in the new “pay-to-participate” structure.

The owner of the average assessed home in Tinton Falls of $321,226 will pay an additional $36.11 in taxes next year to support the general fund. In Shrewsbury Township, taxes will decrease $97.83 for the owner of the average home of $150,000.

Tinton Falls Business Administrator Tamar Sydney-Gens said the cause of those fluctuations is the reduction of ratables for the two sending districts and a reduction in home assessments in Tinton Falls and an increase in home assessments in Shrewsbury Township.

The district will continue to advance initiatives such as its Balanced Literacy program, and the expansion of phonics and Greek and Latin vocabulary in kindergarten through fifth grade, said Russo. The schools will also focus on continued use of the Promethean White Boards and continue to offer National Junior Honor Society, Student Council and Yearbook at the middle school level.

The public will have an opportunity to vote on the proposed budget at the school elections on April 27. Polls will be open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.