Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-May 20, 2009 Issue

Ramsey May 20, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Council recommends $649K school budget reduction The Ramsey Council has recommended that $649,432 be trimmed from the defeated school budget, and has approved a resolution that includes speciﬁc areas and amounts to be cut. Funds for health beneﬁts for aides, building costs, part time summer posts, middle school sports, and high school clubs have all been targeted for paring. According to Schedule A of the council’s resolution, reductions would include, but not be limited to, the following: $457,385 from employee beneﬁts; $30,000 from cocurricular activities, salaries; $22,504 from athletics, salaries; $21,513 from support services, extraordinary services, purchased services; and $22,880 in custodial services, salaries. “We believe we’ve made substantial cuts while mot impacting a thorough and efﬁcient education,” Ramsey Mayor Christopher Botta said. “The board of education’s subcommittee and the council’s subcommittee should be commended for taking on this difﬁcult task and for reaching a consensus in the short time provided. It was not an easy task and involved a lot of balancing of budget priorities.” The adjusted general fund tax levy, which is $43,243,170 after the recommended cuts, would result in a $50 annual savings for a homeowner with a house assessed at the borough’s average. In the April 21 school budget election, Ramsey voters defeated the $43,892,602 tax levy associated with the 2009-10 school budget 1,803 to 1,355. State law requires the Ramsey Council to review the defeated budget with board of education trustees to consider possible cuts. The school district is not bound to follow the recommendations precisely if the district stays within the reduced tax levy set by the council. Trustees have the right to appeal to the state’s commissioner of education, Lucille E. Davy, to have the recommended reductions restored. The commissioner can approve the district’s original budget, approve the council’s recommended reductions, or make different revisions to the budget. The school districts are further permitted to appeal the commissioner’s decision to the state board of education and to the Appellate Division of Superior Court. Saint John’s Memorial Episcopal Church, located on the corner of Main Street and Franklin Turnpike in Ramsey, will host a special organ recital on Sunday, May 31 at 4:30 p.m. Drew Kreismer, organist and choirmaster at Saint John’s for the past 25 years, will present a solo recital on the church’s magniﬁcent Nevin pipe organ. Music to be performed will include pieces by Bach, Mendelssohn, Vierne, and Callahan. A Drew Kreismer to perform at church reception with light refreshments will follow the musical presentation. The suggested donation of $15 will beneﬁt Saint John’s 2009 mission to ﬁght hunger locally and globally. For more information about this event and other activities at Saint John’s, call the Parish Ofﬁce at (201) 327-0703. Learn more about Saint John’s by visiting the website at www.stjohnsramsey.org. �� FREE Martial Arts Programs Including Uniform CALL NOW 201-327-7080 26 E. Main St • Ramsey �� Since 1975 �� Register Now for Fall Classes �� 291 Franklin Avenue Wyckoff 201-848-8350 �� 246 N. Franklin Tpke #2 Summer Dance Summer Classes and Saturdays Too! Hip Hop Summer Showcase Tap, Jazz, Ballet and a Show! Ages 5-7 �� 5-13-09 Joan from Janine BaisFREEMartial2x3(5-13-09) 2 col x” ® DIET CENTER OF RAMSEY DANCEcamp Weekly Camps. Two Levels, Age 7 and up. Daily Classes Plus Dance History, Music, Anatomy, Nutrition and Fun Creative Activities! Private Voice and Dance Lessons with DIET CENTER® Call Now & Kiss Those Pounds Goodbye! 20-30-40 POUNDS OR MORE 201-818-LOSE...the weight (5673) LOSE www.wyckoffschoolofdance.com ��