Give
and take in Lopat budget
REASSESSMENT means proposed
school tax cut will have mixed impact.
Thursday, April 06, 206 • By SARAH CASSI •
The Express-Times
LOPATCONG TWP. | The school district's
proposed 41 percent cut in the school tax rate won't mean
heavier pocketbooks for all township residents.
District officials propose cutting the
school tax rate from $1.92 to $1.14 because of the recent
property reassessment, said Ernie Gallant, school board
president.
Under that same reassessment, though, the
town's property value doubled to $759 million.
District officials presented a $13.8
million budget to township council Wednesday night, an 8.2
percent increase over last year. Some tax bills could
increase by 18 percent, depending on the
reassessment.
Superintendent Michael Rossi attributed
part of the budget increase to hiring additional
staff.
"We're very, very attuned to class size.
As such there are additional teachers proposed for the
first, fifth and seventh grades," Rossi said. "We don't want
to see students in classes of 30 or more. We want to keep
classes at a reasonable level."
There are 105 kindergarten students
divided between four classes this year, Rossi said, which
averages about 26 students per class. Township enrollment is
projected to increase 4 percent next year at the middle and
elementary schools.
"The good news is it's slowed down from
where it was, but we're still growing," Gallant
said.
The district also wants to hire an
additional guidance counselor so each Lopatcong school has
its own counselor, as well as a part-time speech therapist
and two reading specialists, Rossi said.
Besides staffing, the district budget
includes $293,925 for capital projects. Gallant said the
district is proposing new carpeting, furniture and air
conditioning for 13 classrooms in the elementary
school.
"It's things we've been trying to do for
years," Gallant said.
Reporter Sarah Cassi can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by
e-mail at scassi@express-times.com.
© 2006 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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