Proposed 2011-12 East Windsor Budget Is 3.59 percent Increase

Town and board of education officials presented their proposed 2011-12 budgets for East Windsor to the board of finance Tuesday at East Windsor High School.

The total budget proposal is $33,667,825 and represents a 3.59 percent increase over the 2010-11 spending plan approved last year. The proposal would increase the tax rate by .81 mills, officials said.

Separately, the town government proposed budget is $13,941,374 and represents a 1.9 percent increase over the approved 2010-11 budget. First Selectwoman Denise E. Menard said the actual difference will vary based on how the adjusted current budget ends.

The board of education budget is $19,726,451 and represents a 4.77 percent increase over the 2010-11 spending plan.

Under the town charter, if voters don’t approve the budget within three referendum votes, town officials must take the prior year’s budget and increase by 2 percent. That default amount will be considered the approved  budget under the charter.

Town officials said if the budget is approved as currently presented it would mean an annual tax increase of $173 for the owner of a $200,000 house. If  the budget is increased by just 2 percent, the $200,000 house would see a $78 annual tax increase.

Menard said the amount of money spent on capital improvements won’t be set until the budget is approved. The capital improvements budget will then be a percentage of the total budget and the capital improvements planning committee will then decide which projects to fund from amount, she added.

As for the board of education budget, Acting Superintendent Carol A. Fox said there are no added programs or personnel proposed. All of the employee unions agreed to a hard salary freeze for the 2011-12 budget, Fox said.

School officials have maintained the proposed budget is what is needed to open the doors next school year.

Board of finance member Jason Bowsza questioned why the school budget calls for $25,000 for substitutes in the central office budget.

Business Manager Linda Giuliano said the money is used when clerical and janitorial staff in central office and the three schools are unable to work for extended periods.