EMERSON—The Emerson Board of Education will hold a hearing April 29 on its introduced total budget of $28.2 million that includes a nearly 3% increase in the local tax levy.
The proposed local tax levy for 2024–2025 totals $23,514,000, an increase of $663,511 over last year’ tax levy of $22,850,489, or a 2.9% increase, according to preliminary budget sheets.
District Business Administrator John Marmora provided us with a nine-page excerpt from the proposed 82-page preliminary budget.
Marmora told us the budget’s tax impact on the average assessed home ($447,100) is an estimated increase of $237 per year. “Aside from the trickle down effect of inflation being felt across all industries that service public schools, salaries, health benefits, transportation costs and out of district tuition are the main drivers” for the increase, he said.
The tentative budget was introduced March 18 and then sent to the state Department of Education’s Bergen County Superintendent Office for review and approval. As of April 24, no 2024–2025 budget document was yet posted online.
According to resolutions approved at the March 18 school board meeting, the board requested a health care adjustment of $167,452 in the 2024–2025 base budget “for the purpose of health benefit premium increases in the 2024–2025 school year, as recommended by the superintendent.”
The board approved a resolution that included an adjustment of $39,049 for supplies and materials needed for additional students. The item did not say how many.
In addition, the board approved a resolution that established maximum dollar amounts for specific professional services in the 2024–2025 budget.
Services included $200,000 for health services; $150,000 for occupational/physical therapy services; $150,000 for other Child Study Team professional services; $146,000 for applied behavior analysis (ABA) professional services; $100,000 for purchased professional education services; $75,000 for attorney fees; and $10,000 for public relations.
Should it become necessary to exceed the maximum listed, the BOE may pass a transfer of funds resolution as recommended by the superintendent.