2010 School Elections: HackensackSaturday, March 27, 2010
Last updated: Wednesday April 21, 2010, 12:06 AM
BY MONSY ALVARADO
The Record
STAFF WRITER
City residents backed the school district’s $63.7 million tax levy and elected three to the school board.
The tax levy, which passed 1,318 to 812, represents a 4 percent increase over the current year’s levy.
Under the budget, a taxpayer living in a house assessed at the city average of $330,100 would pay $3,499 in school taxes, an increase of $132.
District officials reduced the overall $85.98 million budget, which is down $145,780 from the current school year’s budget. State aid to the district’s schools was cut by $4.26 million.
Superintendent of Schools Edward Kliszus said a reduction in clubs and athletics is expected but that no final decision on specific programs has been made. He said the district has also suspended major textbook replacements, professional development and non-mandated summer programs, and reduced supplies and maintenance expenditures.
The three elected to the board are newcomer Clarissa Gilliam Gardner, who received the most votes with 1,115; incumbent Frank Albolino, who received 1,091 votes; and Rhonda Williams Bembry, who served on the school board previously, with 1,065 votes.
Defeated were Modesto Romero and Jesus Galvis, who received 1,052 votes and 1,018 votes, respectively. Frances Cogelja received 985 votes.
HACKENSACK SCHOOL BUDGET AT A GLANCE
2009-10 2010-11 % change
Budget $86,127,490 $85,981,710 -0.17
Tax levy:
$61,239,258 $63,715,174 4.04
State aid: $14,944,041 $10,688,799 -28.47
School tax rate per $100 assessed value:
$1.02 $1.06 3.92
Average school tax bill*: $3,367.02 $3,499.06 3.92
*For a home assessed at $330,100, the municipality's average.
Services affected
Textbook replacements, professional development, non-mandated summer programs, supplies and maintenance expenditures.
NJ Voters Reject 59 Percent Of School Budgets(But not Hackensack)