The Board of Education has until April 21, 2014 to finalize its budget for the ensuing school year, and April 24, 2014, is the last day for the Executive County Superintendent to approve the budget.
The Board of Education has scheduled May 1, 2014 as the date for the public hearing and vote on the budget.
“Unfortunately, due to last year’s under-budgeting for the current year’s budget by the finance committee and unanticipated expenses, the District expects to have a shortfall of approximately $5 million by June 30, 2014,” District officials tell TLS.
“The challenge in developing a balanced budget for the coming year so that the District does not end up in a deficit position again, lies in the fact that State law prohibits school districts from raising the budget tax levy by more than 2% each year. Accordingly, the balanced budget currently presented to board members does not include courtesy busing which has a price-tag of over $7 million and benefits over 10,000 children.”
Officials say between now and April 21, 2014, the Board of Education and its finance committee “will be working tirelessly with the Administration and the State to develop a final budget which explores all possibilities to ensure that the children of Lakewood are provided with adequate busing services.”
Currently, all aspects of the tentative budget are in the preliminary stages and subject to significant modifications and revisions. Board members and the administration have said publicly they do not like this budget but are constrained by the 2% cap levy and are looking for ways to include courtesy and other needed items in the budget. [TLS]
Please bring michael I back. Stop being so egotistical and admit you need him. He did so much good. You all promised you could do better. It turns out you can’t. We cried when Michael was running the boe. Then Hashem said I’ll give you a reason to cry and brought along (moderated) etc. and all the do gooders (moderated).
Everybody first wanted lower taxes sovMichael was no good. Then we wanted transparency and openness so Michael was no good. Look where all your assumptions have taken you. Seems like we were in goods hands before.The one thing the whole comunity enjoys (busing) they are starting to take away. Who knows what’s next?
Let’s enroll in public school…………we get bussing then……..plus 17k per child of other services.
There has to be a major overhaul of the busing situation in Lakewood!!! A “think tank” should be hired to look at the situation and come up with viable options. Let us vote on options, not just on raising taxes!
just wondering why is it called courtesy busing when we all paid tons of money for property tax.
when i first moved into my house 10 yrs ago i paid around $3000 now its $10,000 and rising.
agree with number 2 – josh like they did in kiryas joel
Does anyone know why we don’t all enroll in public school?
This is shocking!!! Don’t raise taxes in 3 years, add 9,000 new kids to the system, and somehow there’s a budget shortfall?
To Josh, stop your threats and just do it. You know as well as I know that will never happen.
To josh and all other who don’t know the law. Signing up to public school won’t help you at all. The rule of courtesy bussing applies to all regardless of what school you go too. If you live within 2 miles of the school you don’t get bussing. Period.
To#10,
Courtesy busing is for children who live less than 2 miles from their school. That’s why its called courtesy. Any distance greater than 2 miles is not courtesy but mandated.
#9 
 are correct. courtesy busing isn’t mandated , this affects all children. enrolling in public school wouldn’t change the busing rules. our town can’t pay for this “courtesy” either for private or public schools
You also get bussing under 2 miles if you are in a rural area or an area with no sidewalks.
why is my comment still in moderation since last night, I didn’t say anything wrong or bash anyone just stating a simple fact