For immediate release

For further information, please contact:

Mayor, Richard Krieg at (973) 543-6755 or

Twp Administrator, Stephen Mountain at (973) 543-4555

Mendham Township Completes Review of Defeated Township Schools Budget

May 16, 2006 --   The Mendham Township Committee completed its review of the defeated Mendham Township School District budget and announced at a special meeting on Monday that it is recommending a $161,000 reduction in the tax levy that had been set in the defeated $12,048,760 budget.

The review of the Township School Budget was a collaborative effort between the Mendham Township Board of Education, the school district administration, and the Township Committee. Numerous meetings were held during the review process in which suggested areas for consideration were proposed by school officials, ideas were exchanged and budget line items were analyzed.

At all times, the ultimate recommended reductions were scrupulously chosen to achieve the goal of lowering the tax levy while not negatively affecting the essential high-quality educational programs and services provided by the school district for the children of Mendham Township. 

Implementing the items recommended in the resolution will lower the tax levy for the Mendham Township School District from $12,048,760 to $11,887,760, or 1.3%.

The reduction was memorialized by Resolution adopted unanimously by the Township Committee which specifies that the reduction can come from the following areas:

·        Eliminating a part-time non-instructional Aide position

·        Eliminating a stipend for Homework Club, Enrichment Coordinator and Gifted & Talented Coordinator

·        Deferring half of the payment owed to the Township for the loan provided to the school in 2002 for replacement of the elementary school roof

·        Deferring capital funding for the removal and replacement of the Elementary School auxiliary gym

·        Generally reducing expenditures in non-educational line items

The Township Resolution certifying the new tax levy is the final scheduled step of the local review process.  The local School Board does have the option of appealing the Township Committee’s Certification Resolution to the State Commissioner of Education; however such action would be taken only if there is a disagreement by the school board with the Resolution.  Under state law, the Board’s appeal could request a complete restoration of 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 that circumstance would be the final arbiter of the tax levy.  There are no provisions under state law for any further public referendum 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.