By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE - The Margate Board of Education was expected to introduce a proposed 2007-2008 budget Wednesday, March 14 after this newspaper's deadline calling for no increase over last year's school tax rate.
The proposed $12,970,098 budget, of which $10,173,118 is to be raised by local taxes, represents an increase in spending of $475,000 over the current budget.
The district utilized $1,116,186 in fund balance for the purpose of tax relief. Fund balance, formerly referred to as surplus, by state regulation may be only 2 percent of the total budget or $250,000, whichever is greater.
School district Superintendent Dominick Potena said the Margate School District has $250,000 in its fund balance. The funds are available for emergencies or unplanned expenditures throughout the school year, such as a new roof.
Potena said the increase in spending is a result of increased tuition costs for Margate students attending Atlantic City High School as well as a 6 percent increase in the cost of health benefits and contractual increases to staff.
Margate pays $15,301 per student to the Atlantic City School District in tuition under their send-receive arrangement.
"That is the basic cost. If the student needs any additional help or special education that cost increases," said the superintendent. Margate currently has 149 students enrolled at ACHS.
Potena said the district is reviewing its science curriculum this year and has budgeted for updated materials. The district reviews its curriculum on a five-year rotating schedule.
Potena said the budget committee - consisting of himself, district business administrator and board secretary Susan Palaia, Chris Storcella and Bob Fiedler - met more than a dozen times over the last several months to come up with the spending plan.
"It's a process that we go through annually to come up with what is necessary for our students and our schools," said Potena.
After the introduction of the budget it will be published, and then the Margate Board of Education we hold a joint meeting with the Board of School Estimate Thursday, March 29 in Margate City Hall council chambers. The meeting is open to the public.
