Millstone taxpayers could see $800 increase
School district spending plan amounts to $30.3M
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

The Millstone Township School District's proposed budget relies on the average homeowner's willingness to pay $66 more per month in taxes than in 2006-07.

The Millstone Township School District's 2007-08 proposed budget amounts to $30,288,011, which is a 6.6 percent increase over the 2006-07 budget, according to Superintendent of Schools Mary Anne Donahue.

According to Donahue, 90 percent of the proposed budget is for fixed or contractual costs for items such as tuition, salaries, benefits and energy.

The revenue sources for the proposed budget include a $24,767,736 million tax levy. The general fund tax levy equates to a tax rate of $1.79 per $100 of assessed value. The debt service tax levy of $2,194,470 equates to a tax rate of $0.19 per $100 of assessed value. Therefore, the total tax rate is $1.98 per $100 of assessed value, which is an increase of $0.198 over last year.

The tax impact equates to $1,980 for every $100,000 of assessed value, meaning that a resident with a home assessed at the township's average of $397,331 would pay $7,867 per year in taxes to support the proposed budget. This equates to $791 per year more than what the average homeowner paid in 2006-2007.

Besides voting on the proposed budget and Board of Education candidates during the April 17 election, Millstone voters will also cast ballots with regard to three additional questions that could also impact the tax rate.

The second question on the ballot will ask voters to approve a full-day kindergarten program for the district at a cost of $399,989, which would increase the tax rate an additional 2.8 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The third question on the ballot will ask voters to approve the addition of an applied technology teacher to the district at a cost of $69,781, which would increase the tax rate an additional.49 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The fourth question will ask voters to approve the purchase of language arts textbooks at a cost of $78,700, which would increase the tax rate an additional .56 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Although state aid remained flat for many local school districts in the past five years, Millstone and other communities are seeing increases in aid this year. The Millstone school district's proposed budget relies on $4,867,756 in state aid, which is a $141,779 increase over what the district received in 2006-07.

The proposed budget also relies on interest, fees and miscellaneous revenue sources totaling $632,518 and a capital reserve of $20,000.

According to the March 2007 State Guide, Millstone's total per pupil cost of $8,842 ranks the fourth lowest in the state and is the lowest in Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to Donahue.

Millstone's total classroom instruction cost at $5,278 ranks the second lowest in the state, Donahue said, and is the lowest in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

According to Donahue, the Millstone Township School District is "all about" the very best education possible, the safety of its students and its exceptional staff.

This year, Donahue said the school district hopes to successfully open its new middle school and have a smooth transition into three schools, which will consist of the new school, a primary school and an elementary school. The school district also hopes to continue to see improved student achievement and curriculum initiatives.

The new budget would allocate just over $1.5 million to move ahead and continue advancements in teaching and learning. In addition, Donahue said the proposed budget takes into account the $1.4 million it will cost to open the new middle school in the fall.

The proposed budget includes $550,818 in tuition increases, for a total of $9,627,896 in tuition expenses. The budget would also fund miscellaneous costs of $107,210, salaries at $12,730,023, benefits at $4,063,232, supplies at $951,302, purchased services at $890,111, energy at $793,850, professional and technical services at $475,018, and property services at $422,329.

According to Donahue, the school district does not have any surplus to allocate.

The election will take place from 2-9 p.m. on April 17. District 1 will vote at the community center, with District 2 at the municipal building, and Districts 3, 4, 5 and 6 will cast ballots at the elementary school. For more information, visit www.millstone.k12.nj.us.

district's proposed budget relies on $4,867,756 in state aid, which is a $141,779 increase over what the district received in 2006-07.

The proposed budget also relies on interest, fees and miscellaneous revenue sources totaling $632,518 and a capital reserve of $20,000.

According to the March 2007 State Guide, Millstone's total per pupil cost of $8,842 ranks the fourth lowest in the state and is the lowest in Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to Donahue.

Millstone's total classroom instruction cost at $5,278 ranks the second lowest in the state, Donahue said, and is the lowest in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

According to Donahue, the Millstone Township School District is "all about" the very best education possible, the safety of its students and its exceptional staff.

This year, Donahue said the school district hopes to successfully open its new middle school and have a smooth transition into three schools, which will consist of the new school, a primary school and an elementary school. The school district also hopes to continue to see improved student achievement and curriculum initiatives.

The new budget would allocate just over $1.5 million to move ahead and continue advancements in teaching and learning. In addition, Donahue said the proposed budget takes into account the $1.4 million it will cost to open the new middle school in the fall.

The proposed budget includes $550,818 in tuition increases, for a total of $9,627,896 in tuition expenses. The budget would also fund miscellaneous costs of $107,210, salaries at $12,730,023, benefits at $4,063,232, supplies at $951,302, purchased services at $890,111, energy at $793,850, professional and technical services at $475,018, and property services at $422,329.

According to Donahue, the school district does not have any surplus to allocate.

The election will take place from 2-9 p.m. on April 17. District 1 will vote at the community center, with District 2 at the municipal building, and Districts 3, 4, 5 and 6 will cast ballots at the elementary school. For more information, visit www.millstone.k12.nj.us.