April 4, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 Waldwick The Waldwick Board of Education has introduced a $29,259,543 budget for 2012-13 that includes plans for the eventual launch of an all-day kindergarten program in 2013-14. The district is planning capital projects, including renovations at the Crescent School and an addition/renovation project at Traphagen School, to accommodate the allday kindergarten program. The school trustees recently approved two related resolutions, including the submission of educational specifications for the Crescent School plans to the Bergen County Superintendent of Schools and the New Jersey Depart- Budget includes move toward full-day kindergarten ment of Education for approval. The second related resolution, which pertains to Traphagen School, will allow the district to proceed with the new classroom addition and kindergarten renovation work at Building K. The board is also seeking county and state approvals for this phase of the project. As presented to the public, the district’s 2012-13 budget will include a tax increase of $128 for the owner of a property assessed at the borough’s average of $416,000. This figure does not include property taxes that will be levied to support the Bergen County and municipal-purpose budgets. In addition to the local tax levy of $25,109,832, revenue sources will include $600,000 from the capital reserve, $1,072,139 from the state, and $60,950 from miscellaneous sources. The budget also includes a sum of $599,448 in special revenue, and $637,814 in local debt service. A breakdown notes that 62 percent of the current expenses, or $16,376,606, will be devoted to salaries, and another 18 percent, or $4,652,406, will be devoted to benefits. Current expenses also include funding for buildings and grounds of $1,051,954; $664,273 for textbooks, supplies and equipment; $570,932 for transportation; and $1,891,344 for tuition expenses. In an effort to contain costs, Waldwick participates in shared services that cover technical support, special education, transportation, insurance, banking services, field maintenance at the Traphagen School, and fuel purchasing. The district also benefits from sharing its recreation facilities with the borough. The district will not submit its budget to the voters this year. Under the provisions of a new state law, a district that agrees to move its school board election to November for at least four years (as Waldwick has) is not required to hold a public vote on its budget if the district keeps its tax levy increase at or below the state mandated cap, which is two percent. Waldwick’s spending plan is within that cap.