$5 Tax Dip Approved in Twp. Schools Budget
Board of education approves spending plan with 0.51-percent tax levy increase.
In addition to an overall budget decrease, the Washington Township Board of Education approved Thursday night a decrease in the tax impact on the average resident.
The 2013-14 school budget comes in at $41,402,014, down $635,492 from last year’s overall spending plan. The tax levy–the portion paid for by commercial and residential taxes–increased 0.51-percent, complying with the 2-percent state mandated tax levy cap.
It’s the second consecutive year the tax impact will decrease for Washington Township homeowners, as the average resident with property assessed at $440,600 will see a $5.23 decrease in their annual bill. The board approved a $4.36 decrease in the current year’s budget.
The tax rate for the new spending plan is $1.133, down from the current year’s $1.134.
Four new line items highlight the budget, including a switch from half-day to full-day kindergarten throughout the district; enhanced security measures at each school building; HVAC enhancements at Old Farmers Road School; and funding for a new guidance counselor at the Long Valley Middle School.
No programs or personnel had to be cut as a result of the budget, which Board of Education President Cathleen Compoli said has been reduced overall for the fifth consecutive year.
State aid remained flat for the district at $7,997,562, which was expected, according to Business Administrator Liz George. While federal aid has not yet been awarded, George said the district budget to receive just 80-percent of what it received last year due to sequestration.
Implementing full-day kindergarten drew resident concern and support when it was officially announced by Superintendent Jeff Mohre as an option in February. At the next meeting, which included a full blown presentation on the grade’s curriculum and overall budget expenditures, approximately 50 residents attended, none of which opposed the program.
Una mattina
4:40 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Wow! Let me make sure I understand this. The District school portion of my property tax bill will decrease by about $5, while the municipal portion of my property tax bill will increase by about $35? Why can't the township be as efficient with our tax dollars as the District school board, the Regional school board, and the County? Kudos to the WTBOE, Regional BOE, and County for LOWER TAXES NOW!
The Stig
10:30 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
School district's student population drops by 8% and they "save" you $5, and you are cheering this development? At this rate, if they lost all the kids, they'd cut your taxes by about $70.
The Stig
2:24 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Let's get this straight, the school district loses almost 10% of its students, and you think a $5 tax reduction is something to crow about??!
The only reason your taxes are going down is because property values are up. The district is actually passing along a tax INCREASE, but it is being mitigated by other factors outside their control. Not anyone's definition of "efficient," save your own.
roger freiday
9:49 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Kudos to Stig, BIG DEAL, ''hey Maudie, now we can save the farm'' ! If these self patronizing, autonomous school boards had to answer to the Township AND the taxpayers we would have, or would be, CLOSING A SCHOOL. THEN you might see some real tax breaks. How does the board compensate for much smaller student base? Why, we add full time day care in Kindergarten that's how. Find a butt for every seat ! Let us not forget the debacle of ''Cuccinella'' that set us back over 20 MILLION and now it seems, we could have done without it. The up side of course is all those high paying positions and administrators have life time employment, unless of course, one prefers tax savings.
Minuteman Two
11:50 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
I don't think the "fat lady" has sung.... properties rated in the "high" 400K levels are being sold in the "mid" 300K levels....the school population is shrinking, not growing...California has proven that municipalities that allow "schools and law enforcement" to account for 70 % or higher of their budgets....go bankrupt...
mrwilson
3:06 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
So, enrollment has gone from 3,000 to headed toward 2,000. If it goes to TEN TOTAL kids in the entire district, will some twit be typing attaboys to the BOE's for cutting the budget 1 percent and spending $4 million per child?
Una mattina
7:04 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Why the name calling? It is refreshing to see tax decreases, even if they are small. This sure beats the tax increase imposed by the Township. What is the Mayor and the Committee thinking? Why can't they be as efficient in their budgets as both school districts and county?
The Stig
9:26 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
What's "efficient" about a puny tax cut when you are losing students by the hundreds?! Until you can square that circle you shouldn't hold up the LV BOE as a model for anyone.
Una mattina
9:46 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
I said the BUDGET was efficient. The WTBOE budget reduced spending by $635K verses a Township budget that increased spending by $121K.
As for squaring, it's pretty simple - despite the loss of regular students the WTBOE has been building up programs, particularly in the area of Special Education, due to increased demand.