April 22, 2002

NEWSRELEASE

For further information, please contact Stephen Mountain Township Administrator at (973) 543-4555 or John Fanning, Superintendent of Mendham Township Schools at (973) 543-7107.

 Mendham Township Committee- School Board Announce Budget Defeat Procedures

             In response to the defeat of the Mendham Township School District budget, Mendham Township and School Board Officials have established a process for municipal review of the defeated budget.

            The process will follow the review procedures for defeated school budgets set forth by state law and will include several public workshop meetings and a public hearing.  The workshop meetings will be held on April 23 at 9:00 a.m., May 1 at 11:30 p.m., and May 8 at 3:00 p.m.  The public hearing will be May 7 at 7:00 p.m.   All meetings will be held at Township Hall.

            The purpose of the workshop meetings and public hearing will be for the Township Committee to review and discuss the school budget with Board of Education representatives and the public.  The Township Committee has until May 20, 2002 to complete the review process.   Upon completion of the review process the Township Committee is required by law to adopt a resolution to certify taxes to the County Board of Taxation.  The Township Committee may certify the original amounts which appeared on the ballot or they may certify a reduced amount, which, however may not be less than the local share required by the Comprehensive Educational Improvement and Financing Act of 1996.  The law contains a required local share which results in a minimum tax levy in the amount of $6,062,015.00 for the Mendham Township School District.  The ballot question defeated by Mendham Township voters stated a tax levy of $9,977,384.00.

            If the Township Committee decides to reduce the base budget amount, they are required by state law to identify the specific line items to be reduced.  The Township Committee is also required to provide specific written explanation for any budget change which would reduce spending below the district’s minimum Thorough and Efficient budget level.  Such budget reductions are subject to automatic review by the State Commissioner of Education unless the Board and Township Committee agree on an amount that is approved as sufficient by the County Superintendent. 

            The Township Committee’s resolution certifying the tax levy is the final scheduled step of the local review process.  The local School Board does have the option to appeal the Township Committee’s certification resolution to the State Commissioner of Education, however, such action would only be taken if there is a disagreement locally about the Township Committee’s resolution. Under state law, the Board’s appeal could request a complete restoration of the funds reduced or a review of the proceedings by the Commissioner.  The appeal would have to be submitted to the Morris County Superintendent of Schools within 10 days of the adoption of the resolution of certification.  The State Commissioner in this circumstance would be the final arbiter of the tax levy.   There are no provisions under state law for any further public referendum’s on the defeated school budget.

            Additional information pertaining to the defeated school budget is available at Township Hall or at the Local Board of Education office.  Resident’s with questions should contact either Township Administrator, Stephen Mountain at (973) 543-4555 or Interim School Superintendent, Dr. John Fanning at (973) 543-7107.  The public is also invited to attend any of the municipal review workshops and/or participate in the public hearing scheduled for May 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Township Hall.