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“The impact to Shore Regional is a 94.7% or $744,303 reduction in state aid.”

“Governor Christie has made it clear that school districts and municipalities can and must operate with no more than a 2% increase in the tax levy each fiscal year. Shore Regional has met this challenge…..”

One of the greatest challenges a school district faces is the structuring of a fiscally responsible budget. This challenge grows more difficult each year as costs rise and revenues are capped. To conquer this challenge we must contain costs wherever possible and seek alternate forms of revenue. Governor Christie has made it clear that school districts and municipalities can and must operate with no more than a 2% increase in the tax levy each fiscal year. Shore Regional has met this challenge through numerous shared service initiatives, staff retirements, substantial changes in medical insurance plans and increased utility efficiencies, to name a few. This budget makes reductions wherever feasible without jeopardizing the outstanding education provided to the students of Shore Regional.

The creation of Shore Regional’s 2011-2012 budget was once again accomplished in accordance with New Jersey Law A4. In preparing this budget, the District critically reviewed curriculum requirements, enrollment trends, physical plant concerns, transportation issues, and projected staffing needs to conscientiously account for each dollar presented in the proposed budget. In these times of economic uncertainty Shore Regional has continued to be prudent and fiscally responsible by creating a budget that represents a minimal increase to the towns that we serve.

Staff salaries have been contained within the parameters set by only increasing a total of 2%, while Administrative salaries have decreased 3%. Utility costs have been budgeted at a 10% decrease due to the completion of our energy/efficiency upgrades. The

referendum enabled Shore Regional to replace its old heating, air conditioning and electrical system with new high efficiency heat, air conditioning and lighting systems. These new systems are all controlled by a computerized building management system that optimizes their efficiencies. The 2010-2011 school year is the first full year with these new systems and have

already demonstrated cost savings. We look forward to the cost savings these systems will provide for the future.

Shared services have become and will continue to be extremely important. We continue to join consortiums with other Districts

throughout the State to increase our purchasing power for items such as liability insurance, school supplies, school buses, electricity, natural gas, telephone service and trash collection. We continue to share personnel with the Districts in our region for both the cost and educational benefits. To date we share our Substance Awareness Counselor, Child Study Team Case Manager and Curriculum Director. Shore Regional also shares its Business Administrator with a neighboring District outside of the local region. All of these have proven beneficial and encourage us to continue exploring new opportunities to share and save.

The pages herein of this newsletter present the budget in multiple graphs, charts and statistics for your review. As always, you are encouraged to participate in the budget vote on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. We thank you for your continued support of Shore Regional. If you have any comments or questions, please visit Shore Regional’s website at www.shoreregional.org or contact the Business Office at (732) 222-9300.

Planning & Constructing the Budget

SHORE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT April 2011

ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2011

POLLING HOURS: 4:00PM – 9:00PM

VOTE!

Planning & Constructing the Budget

SHORE R

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PROPOSED BUDGET BY PROGRAM

Municipality Cost Monmouth Beach Increase 1.5 ¢ Oceanport Increase 2.5 ¢ Sea Bright Decrease -5.6 ¢ West Long Branch Increase 1.0 ¢

Local Property Taxes $14,386,255 State Aid 191,114 Surplus -0- Tuition 30,000 Transportation 355,000 Miscellaneous 64,161 (Interest, etc.) TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUES $15,026,530

Total Taxpayer Liability Dollar Impact - Average Assessed Home

GENERAL FUND REVENUES

Current Budget Proposed Budget IncreaseProgram 2010-2011 2011-2012 (Decrease)

Instruction 3,471,886$ 3,607,808$ 135,922$ Special Education 518,918 515,275 (3,643) Co-Curricular & Athletics 794,375 813,491 19,116 Tuition (Special Ed & MCVTS Academies) 1,709,210 2,012,043 302,833 Health Services 91,600 91,400 (200) Guidance 568,700 586,617 17,917 Child Study Team 135,315 134,975 (340) Supervision of Instruction 252,111 220,873 (31,238) Library/Media 197,056 198,146 1,090 General Administration 407,315 362,048 (45,267) School Administriation 438,730 386,003 (52,727) Business Services & Info Tech 313,578 289,523 (24,055) Plant Operations 1,511,016 1,492,878 (18,138) Transportation 1,235,387 1,288,963 53,576 Employee Benefits 2,664,011 2,666,178 2,167 Food Service 10,000 - (10,000) Other Instruction 77,555 83,795 6,240 Capital Expenditures 330,271 276,514 (53,757)

TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE 14,727,034$ 15,026,530$ 299,496$

Average Assessment

Monthly Yearly

608,557$ 7.59$ 91.08$

450,000$ 9.54$ 114.48$

399,000$ (18.35)$ (220.20)$

474,596$ 4.18$ 50.16$

Monmouth Beach

Oceanport

Sea Bright

West Long Branch

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Salaries The SREA contract will be entering its second year of 3 years. The new contract resulted in a significant change in medical benefit plans plus contributions towards medical benefits yielding savings in excess of $200,000.

Employee Benefits Due to changes in medical plans, the District expects an increase of less than 1%. This budget also includes state mandated contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System.

Transportation This represents over forty in-house and contracted bus routes including special education bussing. Shared service initiatives with our sending districts have yielded savings in excess of $250,000 despite salaries and MCVTS bus routes. Tuition We experienced two new out-of-district special education placements costing the District in excess of $340,000 per year. Private schools for the disabled tuition rates continue to outpace public schools. Also, Monmouth County Vocational Technical Schools & Academies (HighTech, Allied Health, MAST, Comm. High & Bio Tech) pass along tuition costs in excess of $400,000 plus the cost of transportation.

Supervision of Instruction, Textbooks, Supplies & Educational Media The District projects no new curriculum initiatives, however, all current programs will be maintained. The International Baccalaureate Program will begin

year five at Shore Regional. Generally, this program provides our students with an advantage when competing for college placements.

Utilities & Communications Due to the cooperative purchasing agreements in which we participate for electricity, natural gas and

telephone service and the completion of our energy/efficiency construction project, the budget provides for a decrease in utility costs.

Co-Curricular and Athletics Maintains current programs and activities at

the same level as the 2010-11 school year. Food Service

The Board outsourced the food service operations and shares a Manager with the sending Districts which has reduced the costly Board contribution.

Why are my taxes increasing when state aid increased? State Aid accounts for 1.27% of Shore Regional’s total revenue. The revenue source that impacts your taxes, the “tax levy” is only increasing by the statutory 2%. Why does one town experience a decrease in taxes and others an increase? The State’s funding formula is based largely on equalized valuation and student enrollment. An increase in students at the elementary level and a decrease at the high school level results in a decrease in the percentage share of the high school budget for that town. The opposite changes in enrollment result in an increase in the percentage share of the high school budget for that town. Are there unnecessary expenditures in the budget? The administration strives to combine services with other districts whenever possible to heighten fiscal efficiencies. Utilization of joint insurance funds, procurement cooperatives, shared energy agreements and a regionalized transportation system all combine to increase the purchasing power of the District.

2011-2012 Budget Breakdown

Questions & Answers

Budget by Category Per Pupil Cost Comparison

Utilities 3%

Curriculum 4% Transportation

5% Facilities

8%

Other (Athle., Ins., Etc) 7%

Tuition 14%

Employee Benefits 17%

Salaries 46%

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Shore Regional Board of Education

:

Mr. Frank J. Pingitore, President Oceanport Mr. Russell T. Olivadotti, V.P. West Long Branch Mr. David Baker Monmouth Beach Mrs. Nancy DeScenza Sea Bright Mrs. Beth Garrigal West Long Branch Mrs. Diane Merla West Long Branch Dr. Anthony Moro Monmouth Beach Mr. Ronald O’Neill West Long Branch Mr. Paul Rolleri Oceanport Mr. Tadeusz “Ted” Szczurek Oceanport Mr. Leonard G. Schnappauf, Superintendent Mr. Dennis W. Kotch, CPA, Business Administrator/Board Secretary

VOTER INFORMATION

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE

PAID Permit #10

W. Long Branch, NJ 07764

CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT POSTAL CUSTOMER LOCAL

Vote Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - Polls open from 4 pm – 9 pm

The following candidates seek election to the Board of Education:

Town Candidate Term Status

Vote for one (1): Oceanport Mr. Tadeusz “Ted” Szczurek 3 yrs. Incumbent

Vote for two (2): West Long Branch Mr. Ronald O’Neill 3 yrs. Incumbent Mr. Russell T. Olivadotti 3 yrs. Incumbent

BALLOT QUESTION/POLLING LOCATIONS

Budget - YES/NO: RESOLVED, that there should be raised for the General Fund $14,386,255 for the ensuing school year (2011-2012). Allocated among the constituent municipalities as follows:

Monmouth Beach Borough 3,705,933.92 + 1.5 cents Oceanport Borough 4,008,925.58 + 2.5 cents Sea Bright Borough 1,561,497.02 - 5.6 cents West Long Branch Borough 5,109,898.48 + 1.0 cents Total 14,386,255.00

District #1 District #2 District #3 District #4 District #5 District #6 West Long Branch Borough

Chemical & Truck #1

Community Ctr. (downstairs)

Community Ctr. (upstairs)

Community Ctr. (upstairs)

Community Ctr. (downstairs)

Old First United Methodist

Church Oceanport Old Wharf

House Port-Au-Peck

Fire House Community Ctr. Hook & Ladder

Fire House Port-Au-Peck

Fire House

Sea Bright Borough Hall Borough Hall Monmouth Beach Borough Hall Borough Hall