Manasquan Schools' Preliminary Budget Down $3M Over Last Year

Manasquan Schools' preliminary budget is about $3 million less than last year, bringing the school spending plan to $23.991 million.

Approximately $13.706 million will come from tax revenue. The school district is anticipating another $10 million in revenue from sources such as state aid.

Of the $23.991 million total expenditures, about $1 million will go toward debt service.

Last year's budget was approximately $26 million, with officials at the time citing roof replacement and unfunded county and state mandates as reason behind a 4.5 percent increase in taxation.

The Manasquan School Board last night unanimously voted to introduce the budget, which is preliminary as the county superintendent must approve the figures.

Further details on the budget line items were not released, with board officials pointing to the pending county approval as a reason, but said approval could come this week. The district plans a presentation for the following school board meeting.

"The next meeting will discuss the meat and potatoes," said Board President Michelle LaSala.

The current school tax rate for Manasquan is 86.19 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

A public discussion on the budget is scheduled for the next School Board meeting, 7 p.m. March 21. The March 26 meeting, the board is scheduled to hold its public hearing on the budget.

The preliminary budget is attached to this article as a .pdf.