Taxpayers in the seven sending districts of Northern Valley Regional High School can expect to be responsible for $41,321,482 the tax levy on the tentative 2008/2009 school budget. This is $2,303,467 more than last year, a significant amount but one that affects each town differently depending on ratables.

The average homeowner in Closter will see an annual increase of $82.95 with other towns yielding varying increases and decreases in their tax burden depending on the number of new businesses or residences in town generating tax revenue.

The district’s budget totals $47,687,336, a 3.41 percent increase over last year’s budget.

Superintendent of Schools Jan Furman said the loss of various revenues and increased student enrollment are two factors that contributed to the increase in the tax burden.

Citing the passage of senate bill 1701 years ago, which mandated changes to school funding, Furman said the district does not have reserve money left to give back to the taxpayers.

"That was money we had used previously in planning to decrease the impact on the taxpayers. If we didn’t spend the money we gave it back in the next year to lower taxes. That is gone and we haven’t been able to replenish it under 1701 so we are not able to do that anymore," said Furman.

She also pointed to the fact that state aid this year is negligible given the fact it includes the cost of special education students, aid that used to be given above and beyond that amount. In addition, the district must now contribute to the pension system for support staff and custodians, said Furman.

Included in the budget are three additional part-time teaching positions for math and Chinese. In addition, a state-mandated full-time special education teacher and a full-time special education aid are provided for in the budget.

However, to stay within the cap, some staffing requests were not filled "which would have been filled other years," said Furman. This precluded the expansion of some programs such as the addition of the student assistant counselor at the buildings an extra day each week.

Furman hopes the residents will find the tax burden to be fair.

"We know that because there are more ratables coming into the communities… [the tax burden will vary]. We are hoping the community supports the budget," she said.

E-mail: wilde@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6706