SPOTSWOOD – The Board of Education has adopted a $31.17 million budget for the 2019-20 academic year, funding operations for the Spotswood Public Schools.
Business Administrator Vita Marino said the 2019-20 budget is $1.6 million less than the 2018-19 budget that totaled $32.77 million.
The 2019-20 tax levy will be $17.35 million, which is a $221,936 increase from the 2018-19 tax levy of $17.13, according to Marino.
The tax levy is the amount to be collected from residential and commercial property owners in Spotswood and Helmetta to help fund the budget. The Spotswood Public Schools is a merged operation comprised of the two municipalities.
Marino said the 2019-20 tax levy includes an additional $161,000 for health care costs.
Marino said $1.79 million from surplus funds (savings) will be used as revenue in the 2019-20 budget. State aid for 2019-20 will be $6.8 million, which is a $105,736 increase from 2018-19.
The board adopted the budget on May 7 and it will be sent to the New Jersey Department of Education to be approved, Marino said.
In Helmetta, the 2019-20 school tax rate will be $1.9134 per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at $206,036 will pay about $3,942 in school taxes.
In Spotswood, the 2019-20 school tax rate will be $1.8974 per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at $255,481 will pay about $4,846 in school taxes.
School taxes are one item on a property owner’s tax bill. Property owners also pay municipal taxes and Middlesex County taxes.
The amount of taxes an individual pays is based on the assessed value of his home and/or property and the tax rate that is set by each taxing entity.
Marino said a behaviorist for the elementary schools was hired and six staff members have retired from the district. No staff members are being laid off.
For more information, visit www.spsd.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=988958&type=d&pREC_ID=1305440.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
