Bridgewater-Raritan Bracing for Extra Aid

After a massive cut in state aid for the 2010-2011 school year, the  is receiving an additional million this year.

"Certainly, we are pleased that we were given a slight increase in state aid which will first be used to plug a substantial gap between expenditures and revenues reflected in the early drafts of the 2011-2012 budget," Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder said.

, and individual district state aid numbers were released Wednesday evening.

Bridgewater-Raritan is preparing to receive , an increase of $1,331,546 over the $5,386,217 it received for the 2010-2011 school year.

Schilder declined to comment on how the additional funds will be used, and what these figures mean for the budget, until after he has met with the school business administrator and the board of education's finance committee.

Board members also declined to comment until discussions have been held.

During a January board of education meeting, Schilder said he was choosing not to name any specific items to be cut from the budget for next year because a .

The district is already accounting for nine staff reductions based on declining enrollment for a $540,000 reduction in costs, as well as a $479,500 reduction in building improvements and maintenance. There will also be cuts of $390,300 for athletic purchases and staff development, in addition to a cut of $400,000 in costs for textbooks.

If the district maintains the maximum 2 percent tax levy increase, Schilder has said, no more cuts will be necessary.

But with the state aid numbers now announced, Schilder declined to comment on whether this will hold true at this time.