Taxes May Go Up In Belleville Under Proposed School Budget (VIDEO)

NOTE: This article was updated with a statement from Belleville school administrators.

BELLEVILLE, NJ — “There are some interesting conversations that need to happen.” That was the sentiment from Belleville School Superintendent Richard Tomko at this week’s budget review.

The Belleville Board of Education unanimously voted to advance the proposed 2024-2025 school budget at their meeting this week (watch video footage below, cued to Tomko’s report).

If it crosses the finish line as currently written, the spending plan would mean a $413 tax increase for a homeowner with a property valued at $275,000, according to early figures. Read More: Property Taxes In Belleville-Nutley (See Latest 5-Year Breakdown)

According to Tomko – despite a 22 percent increase in projected state aid for the district – there are several factors that are contributing to the potential tax hike. Some cost drivers include funds for more than 5,200 free student meals, rising health care expenses and increasing student enrollment. Increases in transportation costs, especially for special education students outside the district, are also adding to the financial crunch.

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“I would imagine that pencils are going to be sharpened,” the superintendent told board members at their March 18 meeting. “And I don't think this is the budget that we'll be presenting to you as a community in a few weeks.”

“But again, if you don't put everything in it – you can never put it back,” he added.

Tomko said the writing has been on the wall about an inevitable tax hike:

“I know I sat here last year telling everybody who was here, everybody out there – and it's definitely on record somewhere in the metaverse out there – that we were going to be in this situation. As you keep cutting and cutting and cutting and going under 2%, you just keep drowning and drowning and drowning. So we're definitely past that point. We were at that point last year and we cut one more time. So we are going to have to make up some of that money this year regardless.”

Although the district is getting a bump in state aid, it is still not fully funded according to the state's own calculations, business administrator Matthew Paladino said.

As of Friday, Belleville schools are still underfunded by $4.5 million, he said, adding that despite what some commenters are saying, the district doesn't have $10 million in surplus to appropriate into each year's budget.

"The tax impact increase isn't just about 2024-2025," Paladino said. "This is to help future year's budgets as well, so that we can continue all the good we've accomplished for the betterment of the students, parents and staff of the Belleville Board of Education."

The budget now heads to county and state officials for further review, and if approved, will return to Belleville for a final reading and public hearing.

• See Related: Nutley, Belleville Schools May Get More State Aid (Here's How Much)

FINANCIAL AUDIT

The board also heard a presentation about the district’s annual comprehensive financial report from auditor Jeffrey Bliss at their meeting on Monday (watch video footage below, cued to his presentation).

According to Bliss, the latest analysis of the district ended with a “clean opinion” for its financial statements and grant compliance – an “absolute must” in an audit.

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