School Board Approves $146 Taxpayer Increase for 2013-14 Budget

Still recovering from drastic state aid cuts and a defeated budget a few years ago, the New Milford Board of Education approved its $32.3 million spending plan for the 2013-14 school year on Wednesday night.

The budget and its $28.5 million tax levy will increase the average homeowner's tax bill by $146 for the year. Following the borough's latest reassessment, the new average assessment in New Milford is $321,339.

"That's pretty much in line with last year," Business Administrator Michael Sawicz said."It equals out to a $36.62 increase per quarter."

For the 2013-14 school year, New Milford however Sawicz stated that the district must return $61,000 to Trenton for the Schools Development Authority's (SDA) for the second year in a row. According to Sawicz when the district performed several renovations a few years ago the district received state funding towards the projects but is now being required to reimburse the state as it pays off the issued bonds.

"The vision continues to have great students, great professional staff and great expectations," Superintendent Michael Polizzi said. "There is a focus on educational programs, adequate instructional staff and security, maintaining and repairs the facilities and our long-term technology goals. We want a 21st century education which means defining a progressive course of action to have all four schools as high performing educational facilities, creating new specialized programs and launching capital projects in anticipation of future needs."

One capital project is the expansion of classrooms for the Inner Bridge Crossing (IBC) Program, an in-district program servicing children with autism and developmental delays. The added space will allow for more district students to attend class in town, rather than travel to another district.

Polizzi added that the district will also look to replace the roof at the middle school, renovate the high school media center and auditorium along with several other projects over time.

"The district is at a cross roads to continue its forward momentum while focusing its financing stategy that is in the best interest of the taxpayers," Polizzi said. "A public referendum is not out of the question."

A copy of the 2013-14 school budget will be posted on the New Milford School District website later this week.

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