$50.5 Millburn Municipal Budget Introduced

Proposed budget would increase taxes .011 percent per $100,000 property valuation.

The Millburn Township Committee Tuesday night introduced a $50.5 million 2013-14 municipal budget that would raise taxes on the average assessed township home by more than $100, officials said. The budget reflects an operating cost increase of $245,236. The proposed budget would increase taxes for residents .011 percent per $100,000 of assessed valuation. So, under the budget blueprint, the average assessed home in the township costing $1,078,440 will see a tax increase of $118.63 To keep the year over year increase the same, at .011 per $100,000, the capital budget was decreased $500,000, the committee said. Committeeman Ted Bourke gave a presentation of the budget at the meeting, briefly describing certain increases.  Bourke said the 4 …

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School Budget Approved with 2 Percent Tax Increase

Proposal would raise Millburn-Short Hills taxes $15 per $100,000 of assessed property valuation.

In a 7-1 vote, the Millburn Board of Education approved an $81,806,821 2013-14 school budget that includes a 2-percent tax increase. The tax increase will increase taxes for residents about $15 per $100,000 property valuation. For example, for a township home assessed at $1,000,000, taxes will increase an estimated $151. The budget is a $2.9-million increase from last year's budget, which had one of the lowest tax increases in recent history at 0.65 percent. The budget includes 11 new full-time equivalent staff positions, mainly at Millburn High School in which 4.8 teachers will be added. District-wide there will be an additional 3.8 special education teachers and aides.   It will add a full-time security guard at the Middle School and one…

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School Budget Hearing Sunday

Millburn Board of Education to vote on the 2013-14 school budget at Sunday night meeting.

The Millburn Board of Education is slated to vote on the 2013-14 school budget at a public budget hearing on Sunday, March 24 at 7:45 p.m. in the Education Center.  Full agenda attached.  The meeting was rescheduled from its original Monday date because of the religious holidays during the following week. The meeting is open to the public and the adminstration encourages residents to attend and share views. Millburn has released a budget newsletter for residents to review.   

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Crisfield, Birnberg Talk School Budget

[VIDEO] 'Spotlight on Education' an interview with Millburn Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Crisfield and School Board Finance Chair Michael Birnberg on Hometowne TV.

Millburn Superintendent of Millburn Dr. James Crisfield and School Board Finance Chair Michael Birnberg talk to Hometowne TV about the 2013-14 school budget. The two discussed surpluses, capital projects, staffing and more.  The interview begins airing Wednesday on HomeTowneTV through mid-April on FIOS Channel 33 or Comcast Channel 36. Times are as follows: Wednesdays 5 p.m., Thursdays 3:30 p.m., Fridays 8:30 p.m., Saturdays 10 p.m., Sundays 10 p.m., Mondays 8:30 p.m. or watch online at anytime here.  The 2013-14 school budget will be voted on by the Millburn Board of Education at a public budget Hearing on Sunday March 24 at 7:45 p.m. in the Education Center.

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Letters to the Editor

Millburn Superintendent Weighs in on District Budget

Dr. James Crisfield uses letter to the editor to explain administration's philosophy on the 2013-14 budget.

During the course of the deliberations concerning the Millburn Schools’ 2013-14 budget, some questions have come up regarding the budgeting philosophy we deploy when constructing the annual school budget. What we attempt to do in the budget is predict how much money we’ll need in each of the 900+ budget accounts so that our schools continue to operate at peak performance. I feel it is important to come right out and say this: We do not set out to cut as many things or as much money as possible. We do look to save money and capture efficiencies wherever possible, but the overriding priority is to ensure excellence from one year to the next.  We include contingencies in many of the budget accounts, hoping we won’t need to spend them but …

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Do You Support the Proposed School Budget?

The budget was approved last week with negative response from the public but was given support from residents in attendance in Monday night's meeting. What do you think? [POLL]

Do You Support the Proposed School Budget?

The budget was approved last week with negative response from the public but was given support from residents in attendance in Monday night's meeting. What do you think? [POLL]

When the Millburn Board of Education met at the March 6 meeting, the board approved a preliminary budget of $81,806,821 with a two-percent tax increase. The two-percent tax increase will raise taxes approximately $15 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. For example, for a township home assessed at $500,000, the taxes will increase an estimated $76. The $81.8-million proposed budget is a $2.9 million increase from last year's budget. In that meeting, board members Lise Chapman and Rupali Wadhwa, along with residents in attendance argued against the proposed budget citing too much money was being allocated for infrastructure instead of on teachers and curriculum.  When the board met five days later, Chapman reiterated her concerns about …

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Millburn Releases Preliminary Budget Documents

Check out Millburn School district's proposed budget documents, including cut sheet, tax analysis and surplus analysis.

Millburn residents were given a more detailed look into the approved proposed budget Wednesday before the district sends it off to the county on March 7.  The documents, passed out at the meeting and posted on the district's website include a cut sheet, a tax analysis and surplus analysis. All are attached as PDF.

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School Board Approves Preliminary Budget with 2 Percent Tax Increase

Proposal would raise Millburn-Short Hills taxes $15 per $100,000 of assessed property valuation.

The Millburn Board of Education approved a preliminary budget of $81,806,821 for the 2013-14 school year with a tax increase of 2 percent, up from last year's .65 percent. The 2 percent tax increase will increase taxes for residents about $15 per $100,000 property valuation. For example, for a township home assessed at $500,000, the taxes will increase an estimated $76. [For a tax analysis at each percentage increase, cut sheet and surplus analysis, please check out budget documents the district released Wednesday.] The $81.8 million proposed budget is a $2.9 million increase from last year's budget, which had one of the lowest tax increases in recent history. The preliminary budget passed 5-2 after a lengthy discussion between board …

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