Discussion before the vote focused on a $50,000 assistant security director position.
In an unusual move, the Phillipsburg Board of Education rejected its own $84.9 million budget in a 6-6 vote Monday night.
Discussion before the roll call focused on a proposed $50,000-a-year assistant security director position. Some residents and board members asked if it would be more effective to use the money for two additional security guards rather than an administrative position.
Superintendent George Chando told board members the item could go back to the budget committee for review.
During the meeting, Business Administrator Staci Horne presented the budget, described the six-month process of crafting it and highlighted some of its impacts.
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The $84,989,706 spending plan for 2017-18 is up about $7 million from the previous year and includes a 3.8 percent tax levy increase. That equals about a $58 increase on the year, or $4.84 a month, for every $100,000 of assessed property value.
Administrators noted it is the smallest tax increase in five years, which have averaged about 6.2 percent annually.
MORE: See Phillipsburg's budget presentation
Chando also said the budget has to balance rising costs with no increase in state aid for at least the second straight year.
"Unfortunately, that's what everybody's dealing with," he said. "I can only implore the governor's administration and the legislatures to attack this problem."
The budget allows for $9.7 million in planned improvements around the district, including $2 million for interior renovations at the middle school and $1 million for the stadium.
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A $5.7 million cost for an energy savings improvement plan seeks to pay off more than required this year on a 15-year lease with the goal of freeing up funds in coming years, when state aid may be reduced, Horne said.
Board members Kevin Bayne, Bernard Brotzman, Joseph Delesky, Ernest Gallant, Rosemarie Person and William J. Spencer voted in favor of the budget's passage. Against it were Alan Amey, Peter Marino, Sandra Morissette, Vickie Mendes-Branch, Vice President Matt Scerbo and President Tom McGuire.
The budget committee will meet to discuss changes on Thursday, with a meeting of the full board planned Monday, Horne said Tuesday. The budget is expected to be the only item on the agenda.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.