No more cuts possible
without hurting students, council says.
Saturday, May 17, 2008 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER •
The Express-Times
PHILLIPSBURG | Town council on Friday
did not recommend any cuts to the Phillipsburg School District's
rejected $59.6 million budget and certified the $7 million local
tax levy.
Councilmen said after reviewing
the district's spending plan, they believed any reductions beyond
what school officials had already made would be detrimental. The
district is reducing its staff by 64 positions and making cuts
in other areas to close an initial $10 million shortfall.
"Any further cuts are going to
hurt the kids," Council Vice President J.P. Stettner said.
Because voters defeated the district's
proposed budget, town council had the right to recommend spending
cuts. It was defeated 320 to 246.
"I respect the vote that was taken,"
Councilman Jim Shelly said. But he also believes that further
reductions would negatively affect the school. He commended the
district for making tough choices and changes, such as administrative
restructuring, in a challenging financial situation.
State aid is limited to a 2 percent
increase for the next few years, and the district had to use $2.2
million from its surplus for the 2006-07 budget.
Sandy Marino-Cappello, a mother
of five district children, thanked town officials for their decision.
She said she is upset about the
cuts being made to the school system, particularly to the arts,
and is relieved further reductions weren't recommended.
"I trust that you all are doing
the best that you can," she said.