State monitor assigned to Nutley Public School District to assist with finances
The state will be providing a no-interest loan to the school district to cover what they believe is a $7 million shortage for the current school year.
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The Nutley Public School District has been assigned a state monitor to assist in their multimillion-dollar budget shortfall.
It was announced during Tuesday night’s school board meeting that the state will be providing a no-interest loan to the school district to cover what they believe is a $7 million shortage for the current school year.
Despite producing what the board calls a solution to the budget deficit, parents voiced their concerns during the public comment period.
“I actually have career experience in budgeting and planning and this, this is garbage," said one Nutley parent.
Another concern voiced by residents was how the loan from the state would fall on their shoulders to pay back.
“We'll have to pay back $7 million - that's a lot of money. Our taxes in Nutley are very high. I can’t imagine my taxes going any higher,” said resident Judy White.
Jeannette Makus is the state monitor assigned to the district. She was at Tuesday’s meeting and explained to parents and residents what she believes happened to the money.
“What I can surmise is that the business administrator withdrew the money from the maintenance reserve and then transferred it and utilized it for other areas," Makus explained. "As a result, the budget was over expended. But it didn’t show...the board members would not have known.
The business administrator for the district has been put on administrative leave. The board said a search for a new administrator will begin later this week.
