Council will 'respect will of voters' on tab
Accounting firm appointed to review defeated budget
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

OLD BRIDGE - The Township Council has set to work in making adjustments to the school budget voters shot down last week.

The council's finance committee met Monday to begin discussions, and the council authorized a resolution to retain the services of the accounting firm Hodulik & Morrison for the budget review, according to council President Pat Gillespie.

"We're just at the beginning of it," Gillespie said. "Obviously, we have to respect the will of the voters. But also, we have to consider what the needs of the children are, and the needs of the district."

Newly elected Board of Education President Frank Piccillo and Vice President Annette Hopman both said the budget was pared down to necessities, and it would be difficult to pinpoint areas where cuts would take place if the council deems them necessary.

"This is probably one of the leanest budgets we have ever had," Hopman said. "We are way below the other districts. I'm certainly not going to vote to cut where it's going to affect the children academically."

Mayor Jim Phillips asked that the council find a way to get the public more involved with the process, according to Gillespie. While they have yet to set a date, the council is planning to hold a public hearing on the matter in order to get more extensive input from residents, Gillespie said.

"We're going to make a special effort this year to get the public involved in a way we haven't done before," Gillespie said.

The council will also be working with Superintendent of Schools Simon Bosco and Business Administrator Nancy Mongon to glean further information on the budget and what can be done, Gillespie said.

Piccillo said the board will be conducting a budget workshop within the next two weeks. It will also meet with the Township Council on May 9, 16 and 21. When all is said and done, Piccillo said, the board will follow the recommendations of Bosco.

"He's there every day, he knows what areas will be ... less damaging than others to cut," Piccillo said. "We presented the public with a lean and honest budget. It's going to be a very difficult decision."

Looking forward, Piccillo said he would like to invite residents to become involved in the creation of next year's budget, in order to take a more pro-active approach to it.

"I recognize that frustration exists in the community because of the failed budget," Piccillo said. "I just want to thank all of the people who supported the budget."

The council has until May 21 to present its decision to the school board. If the council orders a cut that the board does not accept, the budget will go to the commissioner of the state Department of Education for review.

The $122.8 million budget, which called for an average $156 tax hike, was defeated by a vote of 1,361 to 1,152 in the April 17 election.