Nine West Middlesex Area School District administrators won't be getting raises this year and at least one said he's taking it personally.

By a 5-4 vote Monday, the school board voted against giving administrators 3 percent raises, retroactive to the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year.

Directors Dale Shrawder, Walter Gelesky, Connie David, Warden Burger and President Tom Hubert voted against the raises while Kevin Kirk, Arlene Repko, Gary Koncar and Marshall Campbell voted to grant them.

According to Superintendent Al Jones the administrators and their current salaries are: Administrative Secretary Karen Auman, $22,200; Business Manager and Board Secretary Margaret Burgoon, $51,125; Assistant High School Principal Larry Ellison, $63,976; Buildings and Grounds Supervisor John Giroski, $38,832; Assistant Elementary Principal Georgiana Luce, $58,500; Curriculum Coordinator and Special Education Supervisor Jane Martin, $68,000; Elementary Principal Dennis Messett, $65,055; Superintendent's Secretary Michelle Morelli, $28,000; and High School Principal Russell Ridenbaugh, $74,638.

Ms. Auman and Ms. Morelli did not receive raises last year, Jones said.

The raises would cost the district about $14,110.

"I'm taking it very personally," Ridenbaugh said of the board's decision. After 35 years with the district, Ridenbaugh said he's close to retirement and feels bad for the next person to take his job. He asked who would "stick their neck out" to protect the district and students "the way you treat administrators."

Messett requested all district employees give back their raises for this year out of courtesy to the administrators calling the decision "a sad state of affairs."

Mrs. Luce asked directors if any of them are enjoying a raise in their pay checks or if any of their family members working in the district are enjoying raises.

"There have been many, many years I have not received a pay increase," Shrawder said.

No board members addressed Mrs. Luce's question about pay increases for family members.

District teachers' salaries, which are part of a multi-year contract, range from $32,800 to $58,500.

Ellison said $7,500 the board approved for a part-time psychologist would pay for half of the administration raises.

Several directors said they would not consider a salary increase until they have a budget proposal for the 2002-03 school year.

Shrawder said they don't have a clear picture of the next budget, and there are always more costs cropping up.

"We know what the budget's going to be. We're in the hole," Kirk said.

"We're going to raise taxes 9.8 mills anyway next year; 9.8 plus whatever, that's gonna hurt," Burger said.

The 9.8 mills are needed to cover school renovations, Jones said.

One mill of taxes costs the average taxpayer about $5.85, so a 9.8 mills of taxes would cost about $57.33.

Hubert said he thinks it's irresponsible to give raises before directors know where the district stands in the upcoming year.

"My success here as superintendent of schools depends on many people ... I guess it hurts me a little bit when my management, well our management, team aren't given the same consideration as the other employees," Jones said.

Before the vote Kirk asked the board to show what they thought of the administrators through their vote. "I guess that's what we've done," he said. Kirk said the district is paying for "a million different things that cost money" -- including dry cleaning band uniforms and new water pipes -- yet they can't come up with money for what he considers to be well-deserved raises.

Mrs. Repko said she thinks the administrators do an excellent job, and Koncar urged his fellow directors to reconsider their decision after they have a better idea about the new budget.

Directors who voted "no" said their decision wasn't based on job performance but finances.

"I would like to live within our budget," Gelesky said. "We know we've got good people. We just can't go to the taxpayers and raise the budget, raise the budget. I don't buy that"

"I don't think it's a personal issue. We just can't do it now," Burger said.

Hubert said the decision is based on economics. He said the district could be facing an additional $100,000 of funding needed for special education further dwindling the district's $250,000 budget reserve.