East Windsor Regional School Board Sends Budget to County, With Increase

The voted unanimously Monday to send a budget of about $75.4 million to the county for approval. If it receives it and the budget passes, the tax levy would rise up to the state-mandated cap of 2 percent, bringing it to nearly $57 million.

Citing economic pressures, Superintendent Edward Forsthoffer recommended the following staff cuts to make up a projected budget gap of $791,463:

• 6 classroom positions, targeted to have the least impact on students
• 2 classroom assistants
• 4 middle school content specialist positions and the middle school athletic director position. “These jobs will need to be assumed by our current VPs,” Dr. Forsthoffer said.
• 1 child study team member
• 1 clerical position, with an adjustment to the hours of others
• Contracting out occupational therapy services

“We’re not adding anything new to the budget,” Dr. Forsthoffer said.

Property revaluations in both towns last year make tax rates difficult to compare, but in East Windsor the rate would rise five cents per $100 of assessed home value, or $132 for the owner of an average home valued at $264,000. In Hightstown, taxes would go down very slightly, 0.006 cents per $100 of assessed home value, or $14.80 less per $100,000 of assessed value.

The budget now heads to Mercer County Superintendent of Schools Samuel B. Stewart. After that, the public hearing and adoption of the final budget will be held March 24, and the public vote will be held April 27. Due to Passover, the school election, which is also the time to vote on , falls this year on a Wednesday instead of the usual Tuesday.

In related business, East Windsor Education Association President Ellen Ogintz told the board the teacher's union won't be making any concessions next year, when its contract comes up for renewal. Calling the decision an "unfortunate" necessity, she said moves by the state legislature and Gov. Chris Christie to sharply increase teacher pension and health care contributions will have unduly hard effects on the people she represents.

"Our members will be bleeding money for the next eight years," she said. "Their salaries this year may well be the highest they will ever make."