The Shamong Township School District’s budget for 2014–2015 will mean higher taxes for residents.
At the district’s public hearing on the budget, held April 29, the board of education adopted an operating budget of $14,587,957. That total means an increase of $28.92 per $100,000 of a home’s assessed value. The average assessed value of homes in Shamong Township is $307,899.
The budget’s revenue is made up of $4,227,851 in state aid, a tax levy from township residents of $8,190,800, $43,489 in restricted revenue and a budgeted fund balance of $896,218. The district will also receive $210,032 in federal and state grants.
The goal of the 2014–2015 budget was clearly laid out for residents. The hope is to raise achievement for all students, continue development of curriculum according to adopted standards, continue business efficiency and continue the learning, teaching and assessment process through Achieve NJ.
The tax levy on residents makes up the biggest piece of the pie in terms of the district’s operating budget with aid from the state responsible for the next greatest portion.
Shamong’s multiple shared services agreements with a number of different parties, from Burlington County for heating oil and natural gas to the Medford School District for the purchase of copy paper help alleviate some of the district’s costs.
The board thanked the township, the district’s home and school association and foundation for educational excellence as well as the state police and parents for “being partners in educating our children.”
In other news:
• The board elected to readopt the curriculum for the next school year, as aligned to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the Common Core State Standards.
• Lunch prices for the 2014–2015 school year will remain the same as 2013–2014 with lunch costing $2.55 at Indian Mills School, $2.75 at Indian Mills Memorial School and 55 cents for milk at both schools.
• The board approved a reduction in force of the following positions for the 2014–2015 school year: one kindergarten teaching position, one first grade teaching position, five special education teaching positions and four
part time teaching assistant positions.
• The board approved a contract with the Cooper Health System to provide neurological evaluation services during the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 school years, as needed, at the rate of $350 per evaluation.
• The school will be closed Monday, May 26 in recognition of Memorial Day. The final day of classes for students will be Thursday, June 26 barring any other unforeseen weather events.
