Carlstadt Councilman Craig Lahullier, a member of Becton's first graduating class, says his town is paying the lion's share of the bill while sending a smaller number of students.

The problem, he says, is with the funding formula for the school. The formula is based on ratables: if the two towns had identical ratables then the two would divide the bill in half, regardless of how many students came from each town. However, Giants Stadium and Xanadu don't pay taxes but instead give the borough PILOT payments which don't get factored into the formula. Consequently, East Rutherford receives a substantial amount of money each year that doesn't enter into the total ratables for the town.

"We're not trying to be bad neighbors," said Lahullier. "It's not the borough or the [Becton] Board of Education's fault." Lahullier said Carlstadt's eventual options will include negotiating with East Rutherford to change the funding formula (something that would have to be voted on by both towns in a referendum), appealing to the state Board of Education to change the formula or turning to litigation with the state.

Becton business administrator Nicholas Annitti said he was told by Superintendent James Jencarelli not to comment on the school's budget until the administration has had a chance to evaluate the borough's concerns. Jencarelli didn't respond to questions as of press time. However, Annitti did confirm that only about one third of Becton's students are from Carlstadt.

Earlier last year, the South Bergenite reported that a resident in Carlstadt with a home assessed at the borough average of $200,000 would pay $1,200 in taxes for the regional school, nearly $400 more than the $810 paid by the average East Rutherford homeowner.

"From the perspective of a Carlstadt person, it's fair that they want to change it. If you're in East Rutherford, you wouldn't want to change it," said Becton Board of Education member Joseph Morris. Morris, one of the representatives from East Rutherford, said his concern is that if the borough does end up seeking out a solution to this it could lead to greater regionalization of the district.

"The only way to resolve it and make it more equitable is to go to the state," said fellow Board of Education member John Ondrof. Carlstadt currently pays for 57 percent of Becton's budget, according to Ondrof. "If you take their percentages of the budget and divide it by the number of students, Carlstadt's per pupil cost is going to come out higher."

$15,000 higher, according to Lahullier. He said his town pays $26,000 per student compared to $11,000 per student from East Rutherford.

"It’s inequitable," said Carlstadt Mayor Will Roseman. "Carlstadt has less children that attend the school, Carlstadt has less representation [on the Becton BOE,] and we’re paying more than East Rutherford is… What we’re really asking for is what’s fair."

Ondrof, one of Carlstadt's representatives on the board, said the only way to even get a referendum on the funding formula presented to the public would be to get the Becton BOE to present one. However, since representation on the board is based on population, the majority of members are from East Rutherford (5 to Carlstadt's 4), thus making it unlikely the issue will get on the ballot without turning to the state.

"Why would an East Rutherford taxpayer vote to pay more?" he asked. In order for a referendum to pass (were it to even appear on the ballot), it would have to pass in both towns. There have been dozens of referenda to change school-funding formulas through out New Jersey but not a single one has ever passed, according to Vito Gagliardi, the attorney retained by Carlstadt.

Lahullier said the council doesn't expect the attorney to present his report on the current situation until mid-March. Gagliardi said it’s too early to predict what his recommendation to the borough will be.