School Budget Bumps Tax Levy 2% in Caldwell-West Caldwell

The Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education approved a $42 million 2013-14 school budget at a special public hearing Wednesday night.

The budget will be funded in large part by a total tax levy of $37,446,765, an increase of 2 percent, or $734,325, from the previous year.

The school tax rate will be 1.140 per $100 of accessed home value for Caldwell and 1.177 per $100 of accessed home value for West Caldwell.

Based on an average home valued at $400,000, the average Caldwell property owner will see a decrease of $56 on their tax bill, while the average West Caldwell taxpayer will see an increase of $68.

District Business Administrator and Board Secretary Kerry Keane said those numbers could fluctuate slightly. Keane said she expects the county to finalize tax rates by mid-April.

School board member John King said the main driver in the budget was medical costs, which went up about 15 percent from last year. 

The district was able to soften the blow of those medical costs with newly mandated employee contributions. More than 30 employees waive benefits and receive a $3,000-$5,000 stipend for foregoing coverage. 

The budget maintains all staffing and programs, Keane said.

"We do not forsee any reductions in staff other than those that come naturally due to increases and decreases in enrollment," she said.

The district's administrative costs of $1,589 per pupil is well below the nearly $2,000 allowed, according to Keane. 

She said the budget includes an increase of about $55,000 for books and school supplies and brings back some coaching and other extracurricular costs cut back in recent years. 

Keane said the budget process includes sitting down with principals of each of the district's six schools.

"We do try to fulfill all their needs as well as some of their wants," she said.

The complete 2013-14 budget is available to be examined Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays, at the Board of Education building.

A user-friendly budget is posted on the district's website.