text: preliminary-school-budget-would-raise-taxes-in-haworth
  HAWORTH — The Board of Education's preliminary budget includes a $96 tax increase on a home assessed at $604,000.
  The board received notice that the Bergen County superintendent approved the budget as of April 18, officials said.
  The total tax levy for 2016-17 is $8,898,072, up from the previous year's tax levy of $8,757,251, a difference of $140,821 or 1.6 percent, Interim Business Administrator Vincent Occhino said.
  Spending decreased, going from $9,121,818 in 2015-2016 to $8,647,192 in 2016-17, a drop of 5.2 percent.
  Board President Nicole Brennan said staying under the 2 percent cap is generally difficult when costs are rising in all aspects of operation.
  "Just keeping the lights on, the facility maintained and upgraded where necessary is expensive," Brennan said. "Then factor curricular enhancements, programmatic additions and personnel additions and the money runs out quickly."
  She said budgeting in 2016 is a real exercise in having clear priorities and smart long term planning.
  "I'm proud that this board has rigorously inspected our budget and long-term goals," Brennan said. "I think we have achieved a healthy balanced between expenses and enhancements."