Moorestown residents will see an increase in school taxes for the 2016–2017 school year.
At last week’s meeting, the Board of Education approved the budget on second and final reading by a 6–1 vote, with board vice president Brandon Pugh casting the single “no” vote.
The general fund expenditures for the 2016–2017 school year will total around $68 million, a 3.69 percent increase over the 2015–2016 school year. Including debt service and special expenses, the total is $74.6 million.
School taxes for the average assessed home of $446,500 will increase $208.62 per year.
The total tax levy is $65.2 million, which is a 2.93 percent increase over 2015–2016. This includes the use of a 2 percent tax levy at $1.17 million; the Spending Growth Limitation Adjustment, which allows for the expansion of the 2 percent cap for health-care costs, at $536,177; banked cap at $266,578 from the 2013–2014 school year; and a reduction of $116,875 from the Debt Service Fund.
The 2013–2014 school year has a banked cap totaling $742,894. There is $476,316 that will not be used, as it is expiring this year. After that, there is no banked cap available for MTPS’ use.
Employee salaries make up a majority of the expenditures, about 85 percent, totaling $41.5 million, according to business administrator and board secretary Lynn Shugars. The rest of the budget is made up of employee benefits and other expenses, with benefits for the 2016–2017 year predicted at a 6.5 percent increase.
According to interim superintendent Carole Butler, the proposed budget supports the maintenance of programs and extracurricular offerings. Additions include enhanced academic course offerings at the high school and middle school, requiring no new staff; completion of the 1:1 technology plan for grades six to 12; implementation of Next Generation Science Standards for grades six to 12; initial implementation of strategic plan goals; and an upgrade of the robotic program. Staffing additions include requests for two full-time and one part-time special education teachers, two technology specialists, a special projects manager and a development manager.
Reductions to staff include a part-time pre-K teacher, two sixth-grade teachers and two seventh-grade teachers. The reason for these reductions is declining enrollment.
Revenues outside of the tax levy include budgeted fund balance, state aid and miscellaneous revenues. The budgeted fund balance is $1.5 million. State aid for MTPS in 2016–2017 is $3.78 million, which is $81,345 more than last year.
To help gain more revenue for the school district, revenue generation ideas were created for the 2016–2017 budget, including extended day programs, accepting tuition students, expansion of the Academy of Excellence and Summer Enrichment programs, and development projects. Projections of those revenues are $661,639.
When it came time for comment from the board, Pugh reiterated his reasons for voting against the budget, expressing concern with the use of banked cap and not acting on savings for future budgets now, such as alternatives to the technology plan.
“There were several scenarios that were proposed (in the budget) and they were never elaborated on, which I feel was a large concern,” Pugh said.
Board member David Weinstein and President Kathy Goldenberg spoke on their support of the budget, as well as the future debt that is predicted for the district. They recommend speaking and writing to state legislators and representatives, asking for more money for MTPS.
“We need to speak to our legislators, saying we are unsatisfied with the funding that we receive. There is only so much we can do one on one. This is something we should work together on as a community and a district and let Trenton know we deserve more,” Goldenberg said.
