By TONY MARQUIS and AUBRIE GEORGE | The Marlton Telegram
After cutting millions of dollars in programs and staff, Lenape Regional High School District’s Board of Education approved a budget that relies on an 8 percent increase in its tax levy.
At the same time, the Evesham Township Board of Education approved a $68.9 million 2010–11 operating budget that includes reductions to programming and staff while also raising taxes.
Now both budgets are up to the voters.
If LRHSD’s $139.7 million budget is approved in the school board election April 20, the average Evesham homeowner faces a $128.93 increase in their property taxes.
The budget proposes a tax rate increase of 4.65 cents per $100 of assessed home value.
Regional school taxes are determined through a state formula, which takes into consideration each community’s wealth and student enrollment to determine their share of the tax impact.
If the LRHSD budget is defeated April 20, and the eight communities can’t agree on cuts, the budget would go to the county superintendent of schools — the liaison for the state commissioner of education.
LRHSD is asking for about $107.5 million in taxes this year — $8 million more than last year — most of which will recover the loss of $6.5 million in state aid.
LRHSD has made millions in cuts, including plans to privatize food service at the high schools, eliminating 43 cafeteria positions.
The budget also includes the reduction of two assistant principals, four administrative positions and 37 other support staff employees, including five security positions.
In addition to the staff cuts, LRHSD is cutting purchases of new textbooks, classroom supplies and computers. The budget also reduces afternoon bus runs, the Bridges program and the summer musical.
LRHSD is planning to raise $500,000 with an athletics and extracurricular activity participation fee, which could range anywhere from $75 to $150 per student, Capella said. Details on the fee still need to be finalized, officials said.
LRHSD administrators and staff also agreed to freeze their wages and contribute 1.5 percent of their salary to their health benefits, while asking teachers to do the same. As of April 7, teachers hadn’t agreed to any concessions. The concessions from the non-represented staff saved the district $506,076, according to Jim Hager, the assistant superintendent for business.
The Evesham Township School District put forth a budget that represents a $2.8 million, or 4 percent, decrease from the 2009–10 school year’s $71.8 million operating budget.
District officials faced a $4.4 million shortfall when planning for this year’s budget, caused by a $3.6 million reduction in state aid and a loss of about $800,000 in other revenues.
If voters pass the budget, local school taxes will increase $111.03 annually for residents in the average assessed home of $277,100. The $52.6 million tax levy, which is the number that will be voted on, bears a tax increase of 4 cents per $100 of assessed home value.
The $4.4 million shortfall caused the district to cut the equivalent of 27.5 full-time positions from the proposed school budget.
The loss of some of those positions will come from not filling vacant positions and positions opening due to retirement.
The district plans to hire one teacher and two classroom aides to run a new, federally funded preschool inclusion program for special needs students next school year. With all of that factored in, the actual impact to current staff will be a reduction of 10.5 positions, district officials said.
The Board-approved budget reduces appropriations for supplies in several departments and includes the elimination of all after-school activities, including clubs and sports, which will now be funded on a pay-to-play basis.
In addition, the budget nixes the Metamorphosis program — a middle school summer enrichment program for selected students who have just completed the sixth grade.
Money appropriated for professional development is cut in half and funds have not been appropriated for assembly programs and field trips.
Appropriations have been reduced for supplies, textbooks, replacement equipment, and construction and maintenance projects
In addition to deciding the fate of both budgets, residents will vote to fill seats on both districts’ school boards.
In a contested race for three, three-year terms on the K-8 district’s Board of Education, incumbents Barry Fitzgerald, Lisa Mansfield and Joseph De Julius are running against newcomer Jay Levenson.
There are four seats opening on the Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education, one of which is designated for an Evesham resident. Incumbent board member Joseph Borucki is running uncontested to fill the open, three-year term.
Registered voters will receive notice of their poling location in the mail.
Residents can also find their polling place by visiting www.njelections.org and selecting the “Where to Vote” link.
For more information about voting or to download a voter registration or an absentee ballot form, visit the Lenape Regional High School District’s Web site at www.lrhsd.org or the Evesham K through 8 District’s Web site at www.evesham.k12.nj.us.
