GATEWAY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 2017-2018 BUDGET PRESENTATION MAY 3, 2017
BOARD OF EDUCATION Robert Miller, Westville, President Tami Spissell, National Park, Vice President* Harry Bush, Westville * Juliana Delany, Wenonah Michelle Edmund, National Park Judi Pye, Woodbury Heights * Tamar Shelov, Wenonah Paula Trapuzzano, Westville Keith Wyckoff, Woodbury Heights Shannon Whalen, Superintendent Donna Contrevo, Business Administrator * Term expires the end of 2017
2017-18 BUDGET & ELECTION LAW A-4394/S-3148 was signed into law on January 17, 2012, establishing procedures to move the date of the annual school district election from April to November as long as the budgeted general fund tax levy does not exceed 2% of the prior year; plus statutory adjustments. School board candidates will be elected at the November 7, 2017 general election, and the board will reorganize the first week in January 2018. Petition packets can be obtained at the Gloucester County Clerks office or at http://www.gloucestercountynj.gov/depts/c/cclerk/ The filing deadline is Monday, July 31, 2017.
STATE AID FLAT FUNDING for 2017-18 The district receives $7,507,065 in state aid. This is approximately 36% of our $21,000,000 operating budget. Previous state aid increases: $ 35,781 in 2016-17 $ 42,768 in 2015-16 $ 32,956 in 2014-15 $ 419,569 in 2013-14* $ 173,468 in 2012-13* *additional aid received by the district for being a “choice school”
TAX LEVY 2017-18 Tax Levy $10,667,263 Increase of $356,221 [3.5%] About 51% of district revenues come from taxes. Keeping that in mind, the district has strived to prepare budgets at or below CAP. However, due to dwindling increases in state aid and flat funding for 2017-18, the district has found it necessary to utilize available statutory adjustments to increase the levy to maintain staff and programs. 2016-17: 4.7% tax levy increase 2015-16: 4.9% tax levy increase 2014-15: 2.0% tax levy increase 2013-14: 2.0% tax levy increase 2012-13: 1.5% tax levy increase 2011-12: 1.4% tax levy increase
u Shared Superintendent and Administrative Services between Gateway, Westville, and National Park u Shared Business Services (School Business Administrator, Payroll and Accounts Payable) for National Park, Westville, and Woodbury Heights Elementary Districts u Shared Child Study Team Services (Director, LD/TC, Psychologists, Social Workers) with all elementary sending districts u Curriculum Consortium between the Gateway Group districts – Westville as LEA u Shared transportation with the elementary districts and food services with National Park, Westville, and Woodbury Heights
PROGRAMS & SERVICES u Hire additional math teacher for resource program; increase part-time main office & business services staff to full-time; maintain all other current staffing with the exception of not replacing a retiring physical education teacher. u Hire a School Resource/Security Officer (SRO). u Continue co-curricular sports and student activities. u Continue 1:1 Chromebook initiative and replace outdated business education student computers. u Continue School Choice Program. u Continue behavioral and learning disabled special education programs to keep students in district that would typically be sent elsewhere saving tuition and transportation costs. Expansion of programs by opening two new classes for those pupils moving from middle to high school. u Open special education programs to other local school districts, charging tuition which increases district revenues, and offsets program costs. u Replace 4 school buses that are at the end of their useful lives. u Continue facility improvements to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment. Utilizing capital reserve funds for security system/camera upgrades and phone system.
The proposed budget represents a total local tax levy of $10,667,263 allocated over the four sending districts. SENDING DISTRICT
MUNICIPAL % SHARE OF TAX LEVY *
AVERAGE HOME VALUE
REGIONAL TAX INCREASE/ (DECREASE)
TAX LEVY IMPACT
National Park
17.84%
$137,451
11.0 cents
$151
Wenonah
26.72%
$263,841
6.9 cents
$182
Westville
24.76%
$124,861
(5.3 cents)
($66)
Woodbury Heights
30.68%
$178,372
8.4 cents
$150
* Percentages are apportioned among the municipalities in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A: 13-23 and are provided to the district each year from the NJ Department of Education Office of School Facilities and Finance
In Closing « Gateway students are successful through the combined efforts of their own hard work, academic and co-curricular opportunities provided to them and the support of families and community. « Thank you for your interest in Gateway Regional, our programs, and services for students.
CHANGES TO BUDGET SINCE TENTATIVE ADOPTION ON MARCH 11, 2017 Withdraw from Capital Reserve account for Capital Projects Security system/camera upgrades: Original budget $98,000 Revised budget $108,000 Phone system: Utilize $80,000 from capital reserve account to pay for new phone system instead of doing a 5 year lease purchase ---------------------------Above changes do NOT affect the tax levy or tax impact to each of the municipalities.
