District, Board Considers Uses for Aid Money

The board has not yet decided what it will do with the extra $1 million it received in state aid this year, though it will likely be used in next year’s budget planning.

When the district’s Finance Committee met Monday, the deadline regarding plans for the money had not yet been extended—meaning the board could not plan, proposed, discuss and vote to use the money for tax relief by the state’s original 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline.  Instead, the committee opted to incorporate the money into its budget planning session for next year rather than spending it all in the 2011-2012 school year.

“That is one of the options, but like many of the things in Trenton, it’s one of the options that you can’t actually do,” Finance Committee Chairman Greg Gillette said. “Logistically, it’s not possible for us to do that. The deadline is, I believe, today, so there is no possibility to do it in the (2011-2012) school year.

The district learned it would receive an additional $1,033, 332 in state funds last Tuesday, adding to the $1,033,332 in state aid funds received in February.

After receiving a spending proposal from district administrators, the board will have the ability to spend some of the money in the current budget year, or roll the money over for property tax relief in the next tax year, Gillette said. According to District Superintendent Jorden Schiff, the monies that are not spent in the current school year would default into property tax relief.

“Any monies that are unexpended by the end of the school year roll over into excess surplus, which is then used to provide property tax relief for the 2012-2013 school year,” Schiff said.

Still, the board has several options ranging from spending the money in the current 2011-2012 school year or holding the money until two years from now.

“The board does have a choice to spend the money in the current year budget,” Schiff said. “The board can choose not to spend the money in the current year budget and spend it in the 2012-2013 year budget. It can also hold the possible tax relief all the way up to the 2013-2014 school year.

“There are multiple options open for consideration and my recommendation to the Finance Committee is that we need to go through a deliberate process, take a look at all options, make sure all board members are comfortable with what all these options are,” he added. “To make a decision literally an hour after we met is not a prudent way of spending the funds.”

As a result, the district’s plan is to consider its options over the course of the school year. While some of the money may be incorporated into next school year’s budget for property tax relief, the administration may also recommend uses for it this year.

In addition to property tax relief, the district could consider using the money to reduce class sizes, as well as bringing the elementary school Foreign Language program back to schools.