BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — A proposed change in funding for Passaic County Technical Institute has certainly grabbed the attention of Mayor Bettina Bieri.
"If this change passes, West Milford would see yet another property tax increase that is beyond its control," said Bieri. "For this reason, it is imperative that the governing body act and strongly oppose this proposal."
The proposal Bieri is talking about would change the funding formula for the county's technical high school, which pulls from each district throughout Passaic County. Currently, the county pays nine percent of the cost to operate the school, which is the statutory minimum; sending districts pay the tuition for each student it sends, amounting to 51 percent of the cost. The remaining 40 percent comes predominately from state and federal aid. The new proposition would be to shift a chunk of the cost from the sending districts to the county, making the county and the districts as a whole each responsible for 30 percent of the cost.
That will reduce every sending district's tuition payment but will increase a majority of municipalities' county taxes, some by a large amount.
By the numbers
West Milford currently sends 50 students to PCTI, paying $597,053 in tuition. If this new funding formula is approved, the tuition payment will drop to $351,487. However, the increase in county taxes, since the county will now be paying a much larger part for the operations at PCTI, will jump more than $1 million, according to figures provided by Robert H. Davis, interim executive county superintendent/business official for Passaic County.What that means to West Milford taxpayers is a net increase each year of $787,813 in taxes paid to the county.
Most of the districts that send more students to PCTI would benefit from this new calculation.
Haledon, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson and Prospect Park would see a decrease in their net costs. Paterson, which sends the most students to the school - 1,656 - would see a net decrease of more than $6 million.
Wayne is in a similar situation as West Milford. It sends 51 students to PCTI. However, the increase to Wayne for its county taxes will be much more significant - more than $3 million.
Thoughts from a school board member
West Milford School Board Trustee Steve Drew said he is not in favor of using the county budget to fund the technical high school.“I don't feel right about going through the non-education budget to fund this,” said Drew. “Most municipalities are struggling with taxes, but we are more so because of the Highlands Act. They're hammering the folks up here with tax increases.”
Drew said this would be a tax increase to West Milford because it won't go by the number of kids sent.
Drew doesn't think this will have the support of many school districts.
“If they're taking additional money from West Milford and other communities, that's not fair,” he said. “I don't think there's a single local school board supporting this.”
The West Milford Board of Education has not taken a stand on this proposal, Drew said. But he believes the board will discuss it at its next meeting, on July 19.
Facts on PCTI
Passaic County Technical Institute, located in Wayne, had a budget of $77 million this past school year. It educates approximately 3,300 students from throughout the county. Its programs include computer programming, automotive technologies, criminal justice, performing arts, culinary arts and engineering. It has its own school board, whose members are appointed by the Passaic County Freeholders.This change in funding will not increase the amount of money going to PCTI; rather it will shift where it is coming from.
Township will discuss it
Bieri said in her emailed comments that she has requested this issue be on the governing body's next workshop agenda of July 13.“West Milford struggles with an inability to generate additional revenues due to various state legislation, including the Highlands Act and the existing minimal taxation method on watershed property,” Bieri added. “If this proposal passes, our residents would suffer an even greater burden with higher taxes beyond the control of the local governing body. We need to take every action possible to prevent such unfair mandates from the state and the county. These inequities to our community must stop.”
The mayor and township council will meet on Wednesday, July 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building, 1480 Union Valley Road.
What are your thoughts about this new funding proposal for PCTI? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and tell us.