PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2006/2007 BUDGET
MARCH 30, 2006
7:02 P.M.
The Public Hearing on the 2006/2007 School Budget took place in the Board Room, Franklin School, 100 Davis Avenue, Kearny, on the evening of the above date.
President Torres called the meeting to order and announced that in accordance with Chapter 231, Laws of 1975, Open Public Meetings Act, notice of this meeting was printed in the Observer on March 29, 2006, and notice of the meeting along with a copy of the 2006/2007 Budget was printed in the Jersey Journal on March 24, 2006. Notice of the meeting was also posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of the Board Office, 100 Davis Avenue, and filed with the Town Clerk by letter dated March 20, 2006.
ROLL CALL
On roll call, the following members were present: Mr. Campbell, Mr. Castelli, Mrs. Mc Keown, Mrs. Santos, Mr. Sgalia, Mrs. Mc Donald, President Torres.
Mr. Robert P. Mooney, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ingrid L. Kiss, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Leslie J. Gaulton, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, and Mr. Kenneth J. Lindenfelser, Board Attorney were also present.
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Mr. Martello was unable to attend the meeting, but was available via speaker phone.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
President Torres led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
DISCUSSION
Those present discussed the benefits of the addition of $2,211,760 in Abbott-Bordered Rim Aid and how it could be best utilized in the upcoming budget. Noting that the intent of the legislation concerning the Aid is to raise a district’s per pupil costs to eventually align with that of the Abbott Districts, there is no official preclusion in the law to use the monies to reduce the tax levy. In reply to inquiries from Board members, Mr. Gaulton confirmed that the budget was below “cap” by $204,074, and discussion continued regarding allocation of the additional funding.
OBSERVERS
The following observers addressed the Board:
Michael Cicchino, 102 Linden Avenue
Bruce Robertson, 184 Midland Avenue
Norberto Diaz, 64 Hamilton Avenue
BOARD MEMBER ARRIVES
Mr. Doffont arrived at 8:25 P.M.
The following resolution was moved by Mrs. Mc Keown and seconded by Mrs. Mc Donald:
1. 2006/2007 BUDGET – ALLOCATION OF “ABBOTT-BORDERED RIM AID”
The Kearny Board of Education hereby resolves the following regarding the 2006/2007 school budget:
Allocate $204,074 of the “Abbott-Bordered Rim Aid” to bring the 2006/2007 school budget to “cap”;
Earmark the amount of $300,000 for the following purposes:
Increases to health benefits costs; additional costs for the proposed middle school alternative education program; additional payments toward the new reading textbook program, currently planned as a five-year lease/purchase;
Reduce the proposed tax levy by $1,707,686.
The following AMENDED resolution was offered by Mr. Sgalia and seconded by Mrs. Mc Donald:
2. 2006/2007 BUDGET – ALLOCATION OF “ABBOTT-BORDERED RIM AID”
The Kearny Board of Education hereby resolves the following regarding the 2006/2007 school budget:
Allocate $204,074 of the “Abbott-Bordered Rim Aid” to bring the 2006/2007 school budget to “cap”; funds to be utilized for the middle school alternative education program, the textbook account, and the world language program, as needed;
Reduce the proposed tax levy by the remaining amount of $2,007,686, as follows:
AMOUNT TO BE
GROSS BUDGET RAISED BY TAXATION
$ 63,703,401 $ 42,605,063
The following AMENDED resolution was offered by Mr. Campbell and seconded by Mr. Castelli:
3. 2006/2007 BUDGET – ALLOCATION OF “ABBOTT-BORDERED RIM AID”
The Kearny Board of Education hereby resolves the following regarding the 2006/2007 school budget:
Allocate $204,074 of the “Abbott-Bordered Rim Aid” to bring the 2006/2007 school budget to “cap”;
Retain 40% of the remaining funds, in the amount of $803,074, to be utilized at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.
ROLL CALL VOTE ON AMENDED RESOLUTION (#3)
On roll call, the following vote was recorded: Mr. Campbell, “aye”, Mr. Castelli, “aye”, Mr. Doffont, “no”, Mr. Martello, (via speaker phone) “no”, Mrs. Mc Keown, “no”, Mrs. Santos, “no”, Mr. Sgalia, “no”, Mrs. Mc Donald, “no”, President Torres, “no”.
There being two votes in the affirmative and seven votes in the negative, the motion was defeated.
ROLL CALL VOTE ON AMENDED RESOLUTION (#2)
On roll call, the following vote was recorded: Mr. Campbell, “no”, Mr. Castelli, “no”, Mr. Doffont, “aye”, Mr. Martello, (via speaker phone) “aye”, Mrs. Mc Keown, “no”, Mrs. Santos, “aye”, Mr. Sgalia, “aye”, Mrs. Mc Donald, “aye”, President Torres, “aye”.
There being six votes in the affirmative and three votes in the negative, the motion was carried.
The following resolution was moved by Mrs. Mc Donald, seconded by Mr. Sgalia and unanimously carried:
4. AUTHORIZATION TO REGISTER FOR A STATUTORY SPENDING GROWTH LIMITATION ADJUSTMENT
CHANGE IN ENROLLMENT
The Kearny Board of Education hereby authorizes the Business Administrator/Board Secretary to register for a SPENDING GROWTH LIMITATION ADJUSTMENT in the 2006/2007 School Year General Fund Budget in the amount of:
Eligible Requested
$ 361,170 $ - 0 -
The following resolution was moved by Mrs. Mc Donald, seconded by Mr. Doffont and unanimously carried:
5. AUTHORIZATION TO REGISTER FOR A STATUTORY SPENDING GROWTH LIMITATION ADJUSTMENT
The Kearny Board of Education hereby authorizes the Business Administrator/Board Secretary to register for a SPENDING GROWTH LIMITATION ADJUSTMENT in the 2006/2007 School Year General Fund Budget in the amount of:
Eligible Requested
$ 1,443,050 $ - 0 -
Equipment
Educational - Washington School $ 7,000
Educational - Schuyler School 5,000
Educational - District-wide Technology 50,000
Educational - High School - Student Database Program 70,000
District-wide - School Bus 65,000
197,000
Construction Services/Land and Improvement
Construction/Rehabilitation – Lincoln Project #2410-090-05-OAZQ 801,922
Principle on Lease/Purchase Agreement
(Refer to Supporting Documentation – Exhibit 4A) 489,321
Remote Gate – Kearny High School 10,000
1,301,243
$ 1,498,243
The following resolution was moved by Mrs. Mc Donald, seconded by Mr. Campbell and unanimously carried:
6. AUTHORIZATION TO REGISTER FOR A STATUTORY SPENDING GROWTH LIMITATION ADJUSTMENT
The Kearny Board of Education hereby authorizes the Business Administrator/Board Secretary to register for a SPENDING GROWTH LIMITATION ADJUSTMENT in the 2006/2007 School Year General Fund Budget in the amount of:
Eligible Requested
$ 943,437 $ - 0 -
And be it further
Resolved: That for the record it be noted that the financial transactions recorded to date reflect that the General Fund balance is at the prescribed two percent (2%) level, thereby entitling the District to register for a Commissioner-approved (non-statutory) SPENDING GROWTH LIMITATION ADJUSTMENT (SGLA).
The following resolution was moved by Mrs. Mc Donald, seconded by Mrs. Santos and unanimously carried:
7. ADOPTION OF 2006/2007 SCHOOL YEAR SPECIAL REVENUE FUND BUDGET
The Kearny Board of Education hereby adopts the 2006/2007 School Year SPECIAL REVENUE FUND BUDGET, as follows:
GROSS BUDGET RAISED BY TAXATION
$ 6,459,093 $ - 0 -
The following resolution was moved by Mrs. Mc Donald, seconded by Mrs. Santos and unanimously carried:
8. ADOPTION OF 2006/2007 SCHOOL YEAR DEBT SERVICE FUND BUDGET
The Kearny Board of Education hereby adopts the 2006/2007 School Year DEBT SERVICE FUND BUDGET, as follows:
GROSS BUDGET RAISED BY TAXATION
$ 716,959 $ 572,575
SCHEDULE DATE FOR REORGANIZATION MEETING
The Adjourned and Reorganization Meetings have been scheduled for Monday, May 1, 2006 at 7:00 P.M.
MOTION RE: ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Mr. Sgalia, seconded by Mrs. Mc Donald and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Business Administrator/
Board Secretary