The budget was different only in that Kathleen Serafino, Morris County executive superintendent, had removed $2,462 from a spending plan of $128.9 million
LeRoy Seitz, superintendent of the Parsippany school district.PARSIPPANY — If the new statewide salary cap for superintendents was a roadblock set up by Gov. Chris Christie to protect taxpayers, it appears LeRoy Seitz has navigated a successful detour.
After months of howling, the state quietly dropped its demand that the Parsippany Board of Education rescind the contract with its superintendent, and it approved the district’s budget with only a small change that will have no effect on taxes.
The budget was different only in that Kathleen Serafino, Morris County executive superintendent, had removed $2,462 from a spending plan of $128.9 million.
Homes assessed at the township average of $306,343 will see a tax increase of $130 if the budget is approved by voters April 27.
The $2,462 is the difference between what Seitz has earned since December when his new five-year contract took effect, which the state deems invalid, and what he would have been paid under his old contract.
That reduction won’t impact what Seitz takes home. He will earn $220,585 beginning in July, said Anthony Mancuso, board president. The district will continue to pay Seitz based on his contract, regardless of what salary is appropriated through the budget, he said.
Seitz negotiated a new five-year deal months before the governor’s cap took effect. His new salary far surpasses the cap, which limits superintendents’ base pay to $175,000.
Serafino ordered the district to rescind the contract, and made that a condition for her approval of the budget.
"It will remain unapproved until the board rescinds the contract for Mr. Seitz," Michael Drewniak, Christie’s spokesman said last month.
But Serafino did approve the budget — twice. Once after the board simply moved funds from Seitz’s salary line item to a miscellaneous line item; and a second time when it became clear the budget had not met the governor’s approval, she retracted her approval, removed $2,462 and reapproved the budget in its new form.
The move made little sense to Mancuso, who said he felt dispirited by the intervention.
Parsippany is suing to have Seitz’s contract declared valid.
Previous coverage:
• Parsippany school board approves budget and still plans to pay superintendent above the cap
• Morris County's top education official orders modest salary cut for Parsippany superintendent
• Acting education chief Cerf says Parsippany superintendent salary battle is partially resolved
• Christie disagrees with county superintendent's approval of Parsippany school budget
• Parsippany school district delivers budget including Seitz raise in latest snub to Christie