Ridgewood's Board of Education members were given some tough numbers in this week's preliminary look at the budget for the 2011 school year, including a 23 percent increase in fringe benefits for staff.

"We're looking at a $2.5 million increase in medical insurance," said Superintendent Daniel Fishbein as board and audience members pored over the ledger lines on their laptops and a projection screen.

Many increases—such as those related to contractual obligations, like the 25 percent increase in medical insurance for school staff, or a 10 percent projected increase in utilities rates—are out of the board's hands, stressed Assistant Superintendent for Business Angelo DeSimone.

"Your guess is as good as mine," DeSimone said to board members regarding the projected increase in utilities.

But many of the numbers in the budget reflect preliminary requests from schools, and must be cut as the budget season continues.

The preliminary budget includes allocated money requested for special projects. An 11 percent increase for maintenance would include about a half-million dollars requested for projects including remodeling the first floor of the Education Center and the foods room of the high school. A 6.59 percent increase in fields fees includes a project request for new benches at certain school fields, DeSimone said.

In all, the budget comes in as a 6 percent increase from last year—far above the the 4 percent increase allowed under state law (although the board could ask voters to approve raising taxes above the 4 percent limit).

The budget cuts will be particularly difficult considering new cuts and restrictions from Trenton to schools—including a predicted 15 percent overall reduction in state aid. Board members discussed the possibility of dipping into not only the school system's surplus—which has dropped this year from about $750,000 to around $553,000—but to its capital reserves—around $450,000.

"We can certainly use [capital reserves] in next year's budget—but only for capital projects," DeSimone said.

Board member Sheila Brogan also added it may be possible to bring certain issues—such as Trenton's threatened "opening" of towns' surplus accounts on a case-by-base basis—to their advocacy groups at the state level.

"How is it possible to change the rules for some school districts and not for others?" Brogan asked.

The district hosts two budget information sessions Feb. 25. One session (1 p.m.) will be in the Campus Center at Ridgewood High School, and the other (7:30 p.m.) will be at the Education Center.