HILLSDALE—A nearly $27 million school district budget was approved, 4-0, at the April 25 school board meeting. The measure will raise average taxes approximately $119 annually — slightly under 2% —said the Hillsdale Public School District business administrator.
The district includes Ann Blanche Smith and Meadowbrook elementary schools and George G. White Middle School. High school students attend Pascack Valley Regional High School in Hillsdale, alongside students from River Vale.
The high school is part of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District, which also includes Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, which serves students from Montvale and Woodcliff Lake.
The total district budget approved, including annual debt service, was $26,998,697. Board President Shane Svorec was absent on April 25.
Board secretary and business administrator Sacha Pouliot said the district tax levy increased $448,759 for 2022-2023 over 2021-2022. The total school tax levy for 2022-2023 was $22,886,716; last year’s total tax levy was $22,437,957.
The 2022-2023 adopted budget means an “approximately $9.91 per month tax increase based on 2022 average Hillsdale home assessment of $474,172,” Pouliot said at a presentation.
Pouliot detailed 10 categories in the 2022-2023 operating budget, showing increases and decreases from the prior year. Some categories cited included General Education costs, which decreased $302,000 to $8,009,680 for 2022; special education costs increased $372,136 for 2022; out-of-district tuition costs increased $148,958 in 2022; unallocated and health benefit costs were down $310,982; and capital outlay decreased $119,050.
The district’s projected 2022-2023 enrollment was 1,088 students, including 1,070 in-district and 18 out-of-district students. Full-time teachers for 2022 are estimated at 127.25, same as 2021; 23.35 special education aides, same as 2021; 16 custodial/maintenance personnel, same as 2021; 5.2 child study team members, versus 6.2 in 2021, school nurses 3, same as 2021.
For the last month, school trustees have met with parents and taxpayers in public forums to discuss four options for the century-old George G. White Middle School including various degrees of renovating, completely replacing the structure, or doing a minimum of repairs to keep mechanical systems working.
(See “George G. White estimates in,” Pascack Press, April 18, 2022.)
Officials have cited figures from $82.5 million to replace the structure (option 1); provide upgrades and a bigger gym, $58.5 million (option 2); renovate the school and gym but no gym expansion, $52 million (option 3); and gutting the existing classrooms but adding no new classrooms or space, $25.5 million (option 4).
A final school board vote is likely at the June 13 meeting.