News
FH Council Supports School Budget
By Ryan Fennell
FAIR HAVEN - Mayor Michael Halfacre spoke out in favor of the Fair Haven Board of Education's proposed budget and said that he would be voting in favor of the budget and urged residents to do the same.
Halfacre also dispelled a rumor that he said has been circulating throughout the borough that a "no" vote on the budget means an opportunity for the borough council to reinstate funding lost through cuts in state aid.
"This year I actually urge the passage of the school budget for one main reason," he said. "The Fair Haven Board of Education budget this year is $141,000 less than they spent last year."
Despite the cuts in spending the tax rate would increase under this budget because a loss of approximately $600,000 in state aid.
"The bottom line for me is if you look at what the school budget vote is supposed to be about are they spending money in this budget as wisely as they possibly can? For a school district that has many more costs locked in than the borough, to be able to eliminate $141,000 in spending is fairly significant."
"For that reason," he added. "I will vote and I think everyone should vote for passage of the K through 8 district budget."
"There is a rumor going around that the mayor and council has the authority and the ability to restore funding or increase the tax levy if the budget comes before us," he continued.
"That is not one of our choices."
If the school budget is defeated by the public the budget does go before the borough council, however, the council can only adopt the budget as is or ask for further reductions.
"We don't have any authority to tell them to spend more money," said Halfacre. "There is a rumor around town for people to vote no on the budget so it will come to us so we can tell them to spend more. That is a rumor. It is not going to happen."
He also noted that the Rumson-Fair Haven School Board of Education budget has also reduced spending by approximately $450,000 despite a 100 percent loss of state aid equaling $743,000.
"Again, if we don't look at the tax rate and instead look at what they're spending, they're spending less money," he said. "That's an example we try to set here in the borough and I'm glad to see that they're following. It's simply a loss of almost three-quarters of a million dollars in state aid that leaves them to increase the tax rate."
"Although I'm not happy with the loss of state aid to our schools, the good news is the way they do business in Trenton is changing and that's good for all of us in the long run," said Halfacre.
"There's nothing else they can take away from us," he continued. "This year and from now on we hold our destiny in our own hands. The state cannot hold state aid over our heads any longer. We completely control our future from the school board's perspective."
Halfacre also pointed out that the number of students in the district is increasing dramatically due to the economy, which has forced students from private schools into the public school system. He said that enrollment was up by 30 students this school year.
"Children are being pulled from private schools and the numbers are going to continue to increase," he said.
The Fair Haven Board of Education budget vote is scheduled for April 20.
If the public defeats the budget in the vote, it then appears before the council within 30 days for review. The council can then adopt the budget as is or recommend further cuts.
Halfacre said that if the public defeats the budget, it would likely appear before the council at its May 10 meeting or May 24 meeting.
