PHILLIPSBURG | Phillipsburg School
District officials fear they'll face a devastating financial future
if Gov. Jon S. Corzine's new education formula is approved.
Although they are seeking answers
to a series of questions about the plan, district Business Administrator
Bill Poch warned board members Monday they might be hit with a
roughly $4.5 million to $5 million shortfall next year.
"There are so many uncertainties
under the formula," he said.
The district is already looking
at a $2.2 million gap because it appropriated that amount from
surplus last year. District officials had accepted the state's
3 percent increase in funding rather than appeal for additional
money when the state asked for exemption to funding requirements.
Additional costs, such as salary
and insurance increases, are going to further widen that gap,
Poch said.
Poch said principals and other
staff who prepare budgets were advised not to include new positions
or other additions, and they could see cuts up to 10 percent.
He said the new formula is unclear
in some areas, such as how certain figures were derived and exactly
how budgets beyond next year will be affected.
The plan seeks to get rid of the
Abbott designation, which Phillipsburg shares with 30 other districts.
The state Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature needed to funnel
additional money to the 31 poorest districts so they are funded
on par with the richest districts.
Phillipsburg is projected to receive
a 2 percent increase in aid next year. That increase is the proposed
formula's minimum. The school district receives about 70 percent
of its $61 million budget from the state.
Poch said he was one of many Abbott
officials on a Monday conference call with the Education Law Center.
He said the Education Law Center is looking for information showing
how the formula could affect the districts.
The Education Law Center has fought
for Abbott rights, and Poch said the group doesn't want the Legislature
to rush this formula through. It must pass the Legislature before
Jan. 8 for the 2009 budget season.
Board President Paul Rummerfield
suggested the district document its concerns in letters to area
legislators: Assemblyman Michael Doherty, Assemblywoman Marcia
Karrow and Sen. Leonard Lance.
Superintendent Gordon Pethick said
every Abbott district should have the right to address its special
needs.