Council head has faith in budget DeGerolamo has confidence school board heeded advice on making cuts from top down. Monday, April 14, 2008 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Town council President David DeGerolamo hopes the Phillipsburg School District budget doesn't come across the dais. But if the district's voters reject the proposed $7 million local tax levy in Tuesday's election, council will get a chance to scrutinize the spending plan and could recommend cuts. DeGerolamo thinks school officials heeded council's advice of a year ago and considered cuts from the top down. He said he hopes voters support the proposed budget. "(If the budget fails), we will again evaluate whether or not we believe there are extra administrative positions that could be cut while still providing a thorough and efficient education for the students of Phillipsburg," DeGerolamo said. The district's total $59.6 million proposed budget includes staffing reductions, tentatively affecting 61 positions. Exact personnel changes are still being determined but school officials made it clear they will affect all areas. They faced an initial $10 million gap that school officials blame largely on a change in state funding and increased fixed costs. They underwent "extensive review" to try to close that gap while addressing educational needs, acting Superintendent George Chando said. Under the proposed budget, the tax rate would be $1.28 per $100 of assessment. That is a 9-cent increase over this year's rate. The roughly $7 million the plan would seek from taxpayers is $2.9 million less than what state "fair share" calculations show the community should contribute. "We think the budget we presented is one that can maintain our programs, and I would be very concerned with any further reductions," Chando said. When last year's school budget failed, tension mounted between council and school officials. Councilmen, citing a state Office of Administrative Law decision from 2003, zeroed in on the district's administrative costs. The report showed an administrative law judge recommended the district cut central office positions. Council then recommended the district cut one position, reduce the salary on another and hire four security guards. The cuts saved $160,000. DeGerolamo said Chando, who this year replaced previous Superintendent Gordon Pethick, understands the direction the district needs to take. DeGerolamo said this year it appears school board members and administrators took the right approach when evaluating finances. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.