WEST WINDSOR: WW-P school board ponders impact of state cuts Monday, March 1, 2010 11:26 AM EST By John Saccenti, Staff Writer West Windsor-Plainsboro school officials say this year’s budget process is a difficult one. The problem, administrators say, is that not only is the district facing possible cuts in state aid, it’s also facing a budget shortfall of between $2 million and $8 million. On Feb. 11, Gov. Chris Christie invoked executive authority to freeze funds for education aid, forcing school districts to spend down current surpluses. According to the New Jersey School Boards Association, the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District expects to lose $2.885 million out of $10.532 million in aid it had expected for the 2009-10 school year. However, district officials say the state has been short-changing WW-P for years. According to Assistant Superintendent of Finance Larry Shanok, the district is supposed to get $22.613 million in aid under the state’s adequate aid formula. However, WW-P was slated to receive $10.690 million this year. In addition, how much aid it will receive for 2010-11 is still up in the air, but district officials are planning to get the same or less. He also said that dipping into the surplus account will mean that that money can’t be applied to tax relief next year. Mr. Shanok said the district has been running moderate budgets since 2003. Over that time, the district has managed to cut staff in the face of declining state aid and a growing student body — 1,000 more students are projected for 2010-11 than in 2003, said Mr. Shanok. In addition, the rate of increases in school spending plans has decreased over the last seven years, from 4.3 percent in the 2003-04 school year to 1.6 percent this school year. According to a budget presentation Tuesday, the district has eliminated the equivalent of 3.33 full time regular instructional aides over that time and more cuts are planned for the upcoming year. Mr. Shanok also said the district has been able to keep spending on co-curricular activities and athletics spending flat over that time. However, with stipends for teachers and other costs increasing, the district may look at reducing the number of games teams take part in and other measures, including stretching out uniform use. ”With increasing costs, we must cut in other areas,” said Mr. Shanok. Other cuts since 2003 include 18 secretaries, largely through attrition, and the possible elimination of two more during the upcoming year, as well as a decrease in 11 in-house drivers in the transportation department. Mr. Shanok said the district has also been watching it’s capital outlay budget. He said he budget has not changed from $1.5 million since 2003. He credited the district’s use of grants and efficient spending habits for that. He said the district has managed to lower its debt service by $1.3 million since 2003, to $10.6 million. Residents will vote on the 2010-11 budget April 20. A public hearing on the plan is scheduled for March 31. The budget will be submitted to the state in mid-March, and a public hearing is scheduled for March 31. Last year, voters approved a $156 million budget, an increase of 1.6 percent over the previous year. That budget carried a tax rate increase of 9 cents per $100 of assessed value, bringing the total tax rate to $1.446. Under that rate, the owner of a Plainsboro home assessed at the township average of $395,000 paid approximately $5,711.70 in school taxes. The owner of a West Windsor home assessed at the township average of $549,345 paid $7,163. jsaccenti@centraljersey.com. 