School district planning to add staff Lopatcong credits state aid. In addition, budget calls for 2.4% increase in school taxes. Thursday, April 03, 2008 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times LOPATCONG TWP. | School district officials say a 20 percent increase in state aid helped them add three new teachers and a few other staff members to a proposed $14.6 million budget. School Board President Ernie Gallant and Superintendent Mike Rossi presented the spending plan to township council Wednesday night. If approved by voters April 15, the plan would increase school taxes by 2.4 percent. "We're able to add a number of new positions and keep the tax rate (low)," Gallant said. The budget includes an additional teaching position in both third and fourth grades, an additional special-education teacher, a part-time kindergarten aide, a part-time custodian and a secretary. The new teachers will help the district maintain class sizes that better meet students' learning needs, Rossi said. Resident Bruce Hall questioned the increase in light of the additional roughly $500,000 the district is receiving from the state. He believes school district officials should keep the budget in line with the boost in aid or, if possible, decrease the burden to taxpayers. Gallant said school officials considered the plans carefully and cut back on some things. School budgets come with a choice between what is best for students and taxpayers' needs, he said. The proposed spending plan includes adding a behaviorist rather than continuing to pay to outsource that service. It also includes money for coating the middle school parking lot, replacing gym and library doors at the elementary school, upgrading building automation software and some technology. The district's total general fund is about 1.8 percent more than that of the 2007-08 budget. The new school tax rate, including debt service, would be $1.18 per $100 of assessed home value. A homeowner with a home assessed at $300,000 could expect to pay $84 more in school taxes over this year's bill. Township Mayor Doug Steinhardt said he was pleased with cost-savings efforts district and municipal officials made together. They were able to find ways to save on some overlapping costs, such as paper purchasing. They are also exploring solar panel systems to save on electricity costs. Under the spending plan council introduced Wednesday, municipal taxes would increase about 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed home value, township officials said. The township was hit with a roughly $170,000 cut in state aid this year and is facing significant rises in pension contributions and utility costs. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.