Proposed school, town taxes total $98 for average home

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield taxpayers may be paying an additional $98 dollars per average-assessed home if the proposed municipal and school budgets are both approved. The proposed municipal budget estimates a tax increase of $16 for the average-assessed home. The school budget estimates a tax increase of $30.60 per $100,000 for the same home.
This would be a combined increase of about $98 for the average assessed home of $270,700.

Mayor Michael Venezia said the municipal increase is the lowest in 16 years with a total budget of $78 million, an increase of 3 percent over last year. Health costs are one reason for the increase, he said.

“We’re trying to take steps to keep insurance rates flat,” Venezia said in a telephone interview earlier this week.
He pointed out that medical costs went up 5 percent this past year but prescription costs increased 25 percent.

“Most municipal employees are paying as much as 35 percent of the premiums,” he said. “That is upwards to $9,000 a year.”
Venezia said that since municipal employees are paying a bigger share of their own premiums, everyone wants to keep medical costs down. But he acknowledges that costs are driven by what services and products people need.

“We spent three years trying to stabilize taxes,” he said. “Residents will say it’s an increase but $16 is nothing. I’ve asked Township Administrator Matt Watkins to take another look at the budget. I feel the increase, too. I pay over $14,000 a year on my home.”
Venezia said residents can expect improvements to roads, parks and the water system.

The school district will continue to spend taxpayer money wisely, Superintendent Sal Goncalves said. The general fund for education increased from $90.1 million, in 2015-2016, to $94 million, in 2016-2017. This represents a 3.4 percent increase. The total school budget, adding in special revenue and debt service, is $100.1 million. The total amount of taxes to be raised by levy is $73.6 million.

Goncalves said there will be major repairs to all facilities.
“The buildings have been neglected for years,” he said in a telephone interview this week. “Brookdale, Fairview and Demarest will get new roofs. And we’ll continue to implement and upgrade security measures.”

The district will be hiring a remedial instructor for an elementary school to be announced, Goncalves said. Also, a science supervisor will be hired. Budgeting for professional development has been increased from $313,000 to $455,000. State aid, according to Business Administrator Patti Wilson, remains about the same at $20.8 million.

Goncalves also said that there will be interviews today for a new assistant superintendent/director of curriculum. He hopes the position will be filled by July 1.

BOE President Dan Anderson said the tentative budget was carefully vetted.
“We’re continuing to support professional development,” Anderson said, “and committed for next year to the readers/writers workshops.”

The readers/writers workshop is part of the curriculum which stressed critical readings of literature coupled with the development of student writing. The workshops began two years ago.

Anderson also said the middle school will be undertaking a pilot program in which every student will have access to a computer.

“The technology will be curriculum-driven,” he said. “It’s going to be piloted with one seventh-grade and one eighth-grade team.”

He also noted that upgrades to facilities will continue.
“Where there are budget problems, it’s easy to cut back on facilities,” he said. “But the main thrust of this budget continues curriculum initiatives, begins other curriculum initiatives, and addresses facilities.”