Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • April 11, 2012 Mahwah School trustees approve $61 million budget by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Board of Education has approved a $61,037,222 budget for the 2012-13 school year that represents a 2.8 percent increase over the previous year’s budget. The new budget will require a tax levy of $53,918,588. That tax levy represents a two percent increase, which meets the maximum increase permitted under the new state law. That law allowed school boards to avoid submitting their budgets to the voters if the trustees moved their school board election to the November general election and kept the tax levy increase at or under the state-mandated cap, which is currently two percent. In January, the Mahwah Board of Education passed a resolution to move its annual election to November and keep its budget tax levy increase at or below the required cap for the next four years. The tax levy associated with the 2012-13 budget will result in a school tax rate of 98.4 cents, which is 2.3 cents higher than last year’s rate. The new rate will increase the school-related tax by $108 for the owner of a property assessed at $470,000, the township’s average. The total property tax bill, however, will also include taxes that support the township, the public library, Bergen County, and the Bergen County open space tax. The budget includes $79,684 in capital outlay, $2,682,985 in debt service, and $1,055,897 in surplus funds. The major sources of revenue besides the tax levy include $1,942,548 in special education aid from the state, and $50,168 and $253,465 in state security and transportation aid. The budget also includes $820,000 in state and federal grants and entitlements. The major appropriations included in the budget are $16,649,268 in regular program instruction, $4,240,170 in special education program instruction, $1,228,404 in basic skills/remedial program instruction, $3,364,211 in tuition for out-of-district program instruction, $5,958,600 in the operation and maintenance of the district’s facilities, and $8,314,150 for employee benefits. Edward Deptula, the school district’s business administrator, advised that the budget might permit the hiring of a first grade teacher at the Lenape School, three reading teachers/literary coaches district wide, an English as a Second Language teacher, two special education teachers, and a math teacher. In addition, he said, the district migh be able to add a partial business teacher position at the high school, and a director of curriculum. He added that the budget assumes a contract settlement with the teachers’ association this year. The teachers’ contract has been the subject of negotiation and mediation since the prior agreement expired in June 2010. The next meeting, which will include the stateappointed mediator, is not scheduled until May 2. The state’s department of education has calculated that the comparative per pupil cost for the Mahwah School District based on the proposed budget for the 2012-13 school year is $15,287. The Ramapo Reformed Church is seeking donations of used books for the sale scheduled for Saturday, April 28. The sale will include a large selection of fiction, travel, and cookbooks. There will be books for children and adults. Donations will be accepted until Thursday, April 26. Books may be dropped off at the church at 100 Island Road. For more information, call (201) 529-3075 or visit www. ramaporeformedchurch.org. Donations sought for Used Book Sale Members and friends preparing for last year’s sale.