Bayonne school budget denied, higher tax levy on the horizon

BAYONNE — The NJ Department of Education (DOE) denied the Bayonne Board of Education’s (BBOED) $133.150,503 tentative budget, passed in March, according to Board President Joseph Broderick. The 3.95 percent tax levy included in the tentative budget was deemed insufficient for the DOE, which approves budgets based on the district’s ability to provide all of its students an opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills defined by the state’s Student Learning Standards. The DOE requested the BBOED use its full bank cap of roughly 5.95 percent to make up for the budget shortfall, a much larger tax levy than what the board originally proposed.
The DOE also requested changes to the district’s use of $3.7 million in Regular Operating District (ROD) grant funds, which they voted on in December to use to fill the operating deficit. The board hopes the ROD grant issue can be resolved by working with the state.
“If the ROD grant doesn’t go through, of course you have to look at another way to make up this massive amount of money,” said Broderick, alluding to the board possibly having to make more layoffs than its plan proposed. The board’s biggest concern remains maintaining the Bayonne School District’s quality of education. “Now we’re getting to the point of being able to truly provide a fair and thorough education,” Broderick said. “What are we here for in the first place? To educate the children and give them the best possible education.”
Bayonne Schools Superintendent Patricia McGeehan will meet with NJ Commissioner of Education Kimberly Harrington and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, on Thursday to discuss budget solutions. The next BBOED meeting is Wednesday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bayonne High School Auditorium. The board will not discuss the budget until a special meeting on May 8.