March 3, 2004 

Dear Belvidere Citizens:

            Belvidere is a small community of one square mile in Warren County, New Jersey.  Twenty two percent of our community is state or county property that is not on the tax rolls, and our community carries the burden.  For the past three years we have received flat or less than flat state aid to our schools.  This year Belvidere was one of five districts that received less than three percent in funding.

            In order to increase our revenues Belvidere entered in a new program three years ago that appeared to be a solution.  Currently, Belvidere is now a school choice district.  School choice districts are subject to a different funding formula than the other districts in the state.   Three of the five districts, including Belvidere, that received less than 3% are school choice districts.  It appears to be a penalty for a decrease in school choice students, but districts with overall enrollment declines were given a 3% increase.  School Choice Aid is based on the ASSA report, yet Belvidere has never received any School Choice Transportation Aid.  Our categorical aid is frozen at the October 15, 2000 ASSA level when the school system had 565 resident students.  The enrollment has increased in each subsequent year (608, 616, and 590 respectively) with no additional aid to Belvidere.

              As a result of the inequity in funding for Belvidere there will be significant reduction in staff, services and supplies. This at a high educational cost to the students of this district, and if it continues next year there will be nothing left to eliminate.  Our students suffer with dated textbooks, materials supplemented by faculty, reduced athletic supplies supplemented by parents, and little technology.

             We request relief from the legislature from the dire consequences of this lack of state support.

                                                                            Respectfully,
                                                                   Belvidere School District                             

Belvidere Budget Talking Points

 

-Twenty two percent of the Belvidere Community is state or county property that is not on the tax rolls.

-In order to increase our revenues Belvidere entered in a new program three years ago that appeared to be a solution.  Currently, Belvidere is now a school choice district.  School choice district are subject to a different funding formula than the other districts in the state.   

-This year Belvidere was one of five districts that received less than 3% in state funding.

-Three of the five districts, including Belvidere that received less than 3% are school choice districts

-Belvidere has had a 10% increase in enrollment, but districts with overall enrolment declines were given 3%.

-School Choice is the only program that enrollment is considered, and that is only the number of choice students(which declined due to our increasing enrollment and lack of seats for choice students).

-Our categorical aid is frozen at the October 15, 2000 ASSA level when the school system had 565 students.