Galloway BOE Passes Proposed Budget

The Galloway Township Board of Education unanimously voted to approve the proposed 2011-12 budget following a public hearing in which no public comment was made Monday night at the middle school.

The $53,729,135 budget calls for a tax levy of $28,338,076. It translates into eight-tenths of a cent tax increase, or $16 a year on a home assessed at $200,000.

All that remains now is for the public to approve it during the school board elections on April 27.

“You generally expect more public comment in times of controversy,” Superintendent of Schools Annette Giaquinto said. “We made it clear early on there wouldn’t be massive reductions like there were last year. At the same time, we’re hoping this doesn’t mean people will forget to vote, so we’re really stressing to get out and vote April 27.”

After introducing the budget two meetings ago, and holding an informative meeting on the budget last week, a public hearing was scheduled for Monday prior to the board's regular meeting.

The only public comment was made following the regular meeting of the Board of Education, when former board president Ernest Huggard commended the board on putting together this year’s budget.

“The board has done a tremendous job over the past year,” Huggard said.

It had some help from the state putting the budget together.

After massive cuts were handed down by the state last year, $21,707,561 was put back into the system this year. This year’s budget is up nearly $1 million, but is still down from the $56,694,306 budget of two years ago.

As previously stated by the board, several areas of the system will benefit, including the return of several positions previously cut, additional multi-disciplinary assistance teachers and the reinstatement of co-curricular and sports stipends.

Facilities and maintenance improvements would be possible across the school system, an additional day of after-school busing for the middle school would be possible, and additional busing for the Arthur Rann School would also be possible, due to the complexities of its location and parking situation.

The entire budget presentation given at Monday night’s meeting is available on the school system’s website, gtps.k12.nj.us.

Three candidates will also run for three open seats in the April 27 election, including board President John Knorr, Vice President George Schwenger and Huggard.

The election will be held on a Wednesday this year, rather than the traditional Tuesday because of the Easter and Passover holidays. Polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Polling places are as follows:

Smithville Elementary School: Districts 1, 8, 9 and 14.

Germania Fire House: Districts 2, 4 and 13.

Arthur Rann Elementary School: Districts 3 and 6.

Pomona Preschool: Districts 5 and 7.

Roland Rogers School: Districts 10, 11 and 12.

April 6 is the deadline to register to vote, while absentee ballots are due in the mail by April 20 and in person by April 26.