BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Adopted School Budget /21/08: Final

Development of the Budget September 10Requests submitted by staff October 10, 17Budget Information Sessions for the public NovemberMeetings with principals December 10, 17Finance Committee Meetings December 18Preliminary Budget, draft #1, presented to Board and public January 8, 22Public input sessions at Board meetings January 16, AM Public input session January, FebruaryContinued review by Finance Committee FebruaryState aid numbers received February 26Tentative Budget approved by Board March 20Public hearing of budget March 25 Board adoption of budget April 1, 7PM, JFKCommunity presentation April 3, 7PM, MSCommunity presentation April 7, 8PM, HS Community presentation April 10, 8PM, Crim Community presentation April 15Election/Budget Vote

Listening to the Public Early budget informational sessions to the public Earlier unveiling of budget draft to the public Minimizing tax increases Minimizing budget increases Teachers added for increased enrollments and maintaining low class sizes Controlling administrative costs through reorganized supervisory structure Reinstating part-time library assistants Science resources added to grades K-4 Science textbooks added to grades 5, 6 New Science textbooks for grade 8 Addressing middle school and high school facilities needs through regular budget, rather than through a referendum Streamlined and focused summer curriculum and professional development Saving energy and related costs through Schools for Energy Efficiency Formal evaluation of the curriculum Parent involvement in curriculum development and evaluation Strategic planning process involving the community Increased communication between Board, Administration, and public

Budget Highlights Maintains low class size, K-12 Maintains curriculum and staff development, K-12 Maintains existing curricular and co-curricular programs, K-12 Maintains services that meet the needs of a wide range of students, including … Special education programs Gifted/talented programs Academic support programs English Language Learners programs Concentrates on facility needs at the middle and high schools

New Needs In Budget  High School Staffing 4 teachers, counselor, secretary (.5) Reason: increased enrollment  Middle School Staffingathletic trainer (.5), Teaching Specialist Reason: new epi-pen law, supervisory reorganization  Intermediate School Staffing 1 teacher, counselor (.5), secretary (.5) Reason: maintaining low class size, maintaining adequate guidance to teacher ratio  Elementary Staffing2 teachers, 1.4 Spanish teachers Reason: maintaining low class size, meeting state standards in World Languages  Special Education Staffing 4 teachers, 4 TAs, speech teacher, occup. therapist (.5) Reason: increased enrollment at high school, additional autism class at primary level  District-wide StaffingDistrict Information Manager, secretaries (1.5) Reason: state requirements (NJ SMART), appropriate secretary to supervisor ratio  Middle School Facilitiesparking lot paving, girl’s locker room, interior painting Reason: deferred maintenance  High School Facilitiesconversion of two computer rooms for science labs Reason: increased enrollment  Textbooksscience texts added to grades 5, 6 Reason: No texts are currently in those grades

Comparative Costs (taken from the NJ DOE 2007 Comparative Spending Guide) BRRSDSomerset Avg. Total cost per pupil$11,626 $11,826 Administrator per pupil cost$1,034 $1,276 Student to teacher ratio Student to administrator ratio Faculty to administrator ratio Total Somerset districts compared: 17

Budget Expenditures Personnel79.8% Transportation6.1% Out of District Placements3.0% Utilities2.9% Supplies/Texts2.9% Capital/Maintenance2.0% Communication/Leases/Rentals1.2% Other2.1%

Budget Comparison BUDGET08-09 BUDGET Change Current Expense $123,007,735$127,446, % Capital Outlay $801,256 $1,386,150 Capital Reserve $126,143$0 Account Adjust. Tentative General Fund Budget $123,935,134 $128,832, % Special Revenue $2,148,226$2,125,901 Debt Service $5,465,175 $5,449,938 Total $131,548,535 $136,408, %

General Fund Operating Budget History Year Expenditures Increase 08-09$128,832,572 *3.95% 07-08$123,935, % 06-07$118,730, % 05-06$110,178, % 04-05$102,771, % 03-04$96,335, % *LOWEST BUDGET INCREASE IN 10 YEARS

Increased State Aid Increase of 2.4 million to BRRSD, with no restrictions from state Board returns 1.5 million to taxpayers for tax relief $900,000 used for facilities improvements at middle school, curriculum improvements, and PERS increase

Total Tax Rate per $100 of assessed value Bridgewater$1.04$1.04$1.09 *$1.12 Raritan$.94$.99$1.11 **$1.15 *2.77% increase = $ increase on a $450,000 home **3.66 % increase = $ increase on a $350,000 home

Tax Levy Increase & Budget Increase: Revenue Comparison Budget Budget% Difference Tax Levy $107,988,805 $110,648,297 *2.46% State Aid $9,686,677 $12,096, % Other$6,259,652 $6,085,337 (2.78%) (fund balance, investment income, facility rentals, etc) Total $123,935,134 $128,830, % *LOWEST TAX LEVY INCREASE IN 16 YEARS

Voting History Over 27,000 registered voters: 2007 defeated by 242 votes, 3968 total votes 2006 passed by 158 votes, 4250 total votes 2005 passed by 119 votes, 4863 total votes 2004 defeated by 146 votes, 3580 total votes 2003 defeated by 281 votes, 2495 total votes 2002 defeated by 288 votes, 3490 total votes

Challenges Ahead Maintaining reasonable class size Maintaining program and instructional integrity Maintaining our competitive edge Continued improvement of facilities Handling High School increased enrollment

How to Help Become informed - Ask questions Join a campaign: “PTO Get Out the Vote”, CSA “Vote Yes”, BREA “Kids First” Reach out to the unregistered voter Registration link on Remember the “4-year law” Reach out to the “inactive” voter Provide an absentee ballot request form Make a call Give a ride Get to the polls Spread the Good News about BRRSD!

Important Date APRIL 15 Annual School Election 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Please remember to vote!!!