The Medford Township Public School District had some good news for taxpayers at the March 26 public hearing for the 2012–13 school year budget: there won’t be a school tax increase this year.
The school district makes up 50 percent of the Medford tax bill.
Bryan McGair, assistant superintendent for finance and support services, presented the budget.
“Everyone is experiencing pain,” McGair explained at the beginning of the hearing, from households to businesses to the school district.
Using a five-year model throughout the presentation for a means of comparison, McGair said the K-8 district has 175 fewer employees than it did during the 2008–09 school year. This number translates to reduced programs in music and loss of media center staff. Technology and support staff and services have also experienced reductions.
Facility improvements were also postponed in the past five years.
The 2012–13 budget will maintain all current staffing, programs, and services in the district, and there will be no tax increase felt related to the school percentage of the tax dollar.
The total budget is $47,990,601.
“We are a minimally funded state and federal school district,” McGair said.
The goal is to make the school district as financially independent as possible, he explained.
“That’s what we’re trying to do.”
McGair said the district is not “spending out of control.”
State funds amount to $4.7 million this year. In 2008–09, funds from the state amounted to $6 million.
Federal funds in 2008–09 reached $660,562.
In the new budget, the federal contribution is $407,669.
According to McGair, the taxpayer was kept in mind as the budget was formed. He said the district could have raised the budget by 2 percent this year, but they did not.
“They will not do it just because they can,” he said.
Although the loss of programs is still felt in the district, he said this is not the right time to start them back up.
The township recently went through a home reevaluation.
Prior to the reevaluation, an average home was assessed at $200,503 causing school taxes to be $4,487.19. Currently, based upon the information the district received from the Township Assessor’s office, the estimated average home’s assessed value is $333,182, which translates to the average school taxes being $4,388.24.
McGair said that is an estimated savings of $98.95 per year for the average homeowner.
Throughout the presentation and as his final remark, McGair emphasized that the public schools are “one of the best things going in this community,” and residents should be proud.
He said students’ test scores are excellent, parents are supportive of their children and the kids come to class prepared to learn.
Students have excelled in the arts and athletics, and the district is a leader in curriculum, he said.
“We can improve every day,” he said. “But has this district accomplished much? Yes.”
After the budget hearing, the board meeting moved into its regular session and the public voiced opinions on embattled Superintendent of Schools Joseph Del Rossi’s DUI incident from Feb. 26.
Resident Maddie Glatz stood in support of Del Rossi, saying that it is a legal issue. Glatz noted Del Rossi has a good track record.
She challenged dissenters to stand up and say that they never went to a house party, had a couple drinks … and then drove home.
The challenge was accepted by resident Carolyn McGarvie.
While she believes Del Rossi is a “wonderful man,” and has been a “great leader,” she said adults need to set the example in schools.
She referenced Medford’s “Precious Gems,” displayed on a wall behind the board members — of four former students who were killed by a drunken driver.
Drunken drivers compromise the community, she said.
Board President Michael Etter stayed silent during the hearing, saying that he would do so until due process takes its course.
Opinions are just opinions based on facts that are not yet known, he said.
