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The Great Meadows Regional School District has a history of providing a quality education at a cost significantly below comparable school districts. The district strives to continue to offer successful programs within the means of the proposed budget.

Great Meadows Regional School District

2011-12 Budget

Statement of Priorities

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Exceptional Educational Programs

• QSAC Monitoring- All Categories 80% or Better – A High Functioning, Exceptional District• Record of Exceptional Standardized Test Scores• Offers Programs that Enhance a variety of talents: - Gifted and Talented Academics, Arts- Student Leadership: Student Council, TV Studio, Participants in National Young Junior

Leadership Conference- Performing Arts: Hackettstown High School PROMINENTLY feature performers from Great

Meadows - Comprehensive Music Programs- Authentic-Enhanced Learning: Elementary School Gardens (The Liberty School butterfly

garden - certified National Wildlife Federation School Yard Habitat Site, NJ Wild School Yard Habitat, and an official Monarch Way Station) , Class Trips Focused Around Classroom Learning, Business-Partnerships (Watershed Ambassadors, Fire Safety and Wildlife speakers)

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Curriculum- Use of Multiple Computer Resources for Instruction and

Assessment - Expand 21st Century Classrooms: SMARTBOARDs and

ELMO document cameras in all buildings • Participation in Learnia Web-Based Assessment Grades 3-8 • Mobile Computing• Updated Curriculum • Use of PLC Model (Professional Learning Communities) to

enhance staff participation and engagement

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Professional Development Initiatives

• Support Professional Learning Communities • Seek Teacher Leaders for In-District Professional

Development – PLC Team Leaders • Continue Differentiated Professional Development

Opportunities – Technology• Expand OnCourse Lesson Planner and Grade Book –

include teacher websites• Expand and Re-Design District Website for User

Friendliness

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Great Meadows Regional

Revenue Distribution.

GMRSD 2011-12 RevenueFund Balance 80,853Local Levy 12,119,619Miscellaneous 131,000State Aid 5,676,650Total Revenue 18,008,122 Miscellaneous

0.2%

State Aid31.5%

Fund Balance0.4%

Local Levy67.3%

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Great Meadows Regional School District

Expense Distribution

GMRSD 2011-12 Budget

Charter School Tuition0.8%

Regular Programs -Instruction

24.3%Support Services -Regular

Ed.0.8%

Special Education -Instruction

3.2%

Support Services -Special Ed.

3.3%

Tuition37.8% Curriculum Development

0.3%

Library0.9%

Health Services1.1%

Employee Benefits11.4%Capital Projects

0.0%Transportation

5.4%

Maintenance & Operations5.5%

Professional Development0.0%

Administration5.1%

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Great Meadows Regional School District Proposed General Fund Budget Variances

  2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Variance

  Audited Current PRELIM  

SALARIES 7,293,648 6,702,444 6,979,717 277,273

TEXTBOOKS 43,607 0 0 0

COMMUNICATION/TELEPHONE 48,007 40,438 25,000 (15,438)

AID IN LIEU PAYMENTS 39,741 49,396 44,000 (5,396)

SCHOOL BUS LEASE 16,412 16,700 16,867 167

INSURANCE 52,760 50,400 52,400 2,000

ENERGY (HEAT & ELECTRIC) 292,737 318,346 330,478 12,132

TUITIONS 6,217,157 6,842,518 6,800,593 (41,925)

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 2,383,886 2,328,320 2,058,272 (270,048)

PURCHASED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 1,390,416 1,495,788 1,334,854 (160,934)

GENERAL SUPPLIES 269,518 187,822 186,634 (1,188)

OTHER OBJECTS/MISC EXPENSES 30,911 30,068 26,500 (3,569)

EQUIP. CAPITAL OUTLAY 32,529 92,370 1,682 (90,688)

CHARTER SCHOOLS 90,000 140,250 151,125 10,875

        (286,739)

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Current Expense 12,119,619

Debt Service 530,267

Total School Tax $ 12,649,886

Current Expense Tax increase $ 237,640 2.0%

Debt Service Tax Increase $ 35,052 7.0%

Tax is Apportioned to the Townships based on enrollment:

Liberty 38.1231672%

Independence 61.8768328%

Great Meadows Regional School District

2012 Total Tax Levy

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Property Tax Bill = Rate x Valuation/100

Current Expense 4,620,382.62

Debt Service 202,154.58

Liberty Tax 4,822,537.20 = $ 1.7672 x $272,890,715 /100

Current Expense Tax Increase $ 107,200

Debt Service Tax Increase $ 14,055.00

Great Meadows Regional School District

2012 Liberty Tax Rate

38.1231672 % of total

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2012 Liberty Tax

• Home valued in 10-11 at $ 300,000Home valued in 10-11 at $ 300,000

• Taxes were $ 4,972.20 – tax rate of $1.6574Taxes were $ 4,972.20 – tax rate of $1.6574

• Home still valued in 11-12 at $ 300,000Home still valued in 11-12 at $ 300,000

• Taxes would be $5,079.30– tax rate of $1.6931Taxes would be $5,079.30– tax rate of $1.6931

• A Tax increase of $ 107.10A Tax increase of $ 107.10

• Home valued in 10-11 at $ 400,000Home valued in 10-11 at $ 400,000

• Taxes were $ 6,629.60 – tax rate of $1.6574Taxes were $ 6,629.60 – tax rate of $1.6574

• Home still valued in 11-12 at $ 400,000Home still valued in 11-12 at $ 400,000

• Taxes would be $6,772.40 – tax rate of $1.6931Taxes would be $6,772.40 – tax rate of $1.6931

• A Tax increase of $ 142.80A Tax increase of $ 142.80

**Exclusive of Debt Service**Exclusive of Debt Service

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Property Tax Bill = Rate x Valuation/100

Current Expense 7,499,236.38

Debt Service 328,112.42

Ind. Tax 7,827,348.80= 1.1224 x $ 697,400,147/100

Current Expense Tax increase $ 130,440.00

Debt Service Tax Increase $ 20,997.00

Great Meadows Regional School District

2012 Independence Tax Rate

61.8768328 % 0f total

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2012 Independence Tax• Home valued in 10-11 at $ 300,000

• Taxes were $ 3,170.10 – tax rate of 1.0567

• Home still valued in 11-12 at $ 300,000

• Taxes would be $ 3,225.90 – tax rate of 1.0753

• A Tax increase of $ 55.80

• Home valued in 10-11 at $ 400,000

• Taxes were $ 4,226.80– tax rate of 1.0567

• Home still valued in 11-12 at $ 400,000

• Taxes would be $ 4,301.20 – tax rate of 1.0753

• A Tax increase of $ 74.40

**Exclusive of Debt Service**Exclusive of Debt Service

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Great Meadows Regional School DistrictASSESSED VALUE (Net Tax Valuation)

• Liberty Tax Rate 2011 - $1.657 / $100

• 2012 - $1.693 / $100

• Liberty’s Assessed Value is approx 83 % of Equalized (Market) Value.

• Independence Tax Rate 2011 - $1.056 /$100

• 2012 - $1.075/$100

• Independence’s Assessed Value is approx 99% of Equalized (Market) Value.

• Excludes Debt Service

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Great Meadows Regional School District

EQUALIZED VALUE

• Liberty Tax Rate 2011 - $1.3116/ $100

• $ 329,057,861 2012 - $1.4041/ $100

• Independence Tax Rate 2011 - $1.0417 /$100

• $ 678,715,574 2012 - $1.1049 /$100

• Using Equalized Value – There is a $0.30/$100 difference between the two townships.

• Excludes Debt Service

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GMRSD SUMMARYPer Pupil Cost Comparisons: 2009-10 Actual (latest Audited Figures)

Chester Township 13,197State Median K-8 13,097State Average 12,811Lopatcong 12,344Clinton Township 12,273

GMRSD 11,631From The NJ DOE Comparative Spending Guide.

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Great Meadows Our District Schools