Haddonfield’s Board of Education rejects Finance Committee’s proposed 1.77 percent local tax levy in favor of going up to the two percent cap.
Haddonfield’s Board of Education decided to reject the Finance Committee’s recommendations and put forward a motion to go up to the 2 percent tax cap, which passed via a vote of 6–2 at the Wednesday, April 26 Board of Education meeting.
The meeting started with Business Administrator and Board Secretary John Deserable presenting the Finance Committee’s recommended 1.77 percent local tax levy, under which homeowners with a median property value of $488,481 could have expected a $258 increase in school taxes.
Board member David Siedell posed his concerns following the presentation. Siedell said looking at the list of items the district was foregoing when it was within the board’s power to finance more of these items by taking adjustments equated to shortchanging students.
“It’s a responsible budget, but I don’t think it’s the right one,” Siedell said.
Parents in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting echoed Siedell’s sentiments, with numerous people who spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting advocating the board not stagnate students’ education by simply maintaining the programs in place under this year’s budget.
Board member Glenn Moramarco said the community has historically been comfortable with a 2 percent tax levy, and he was shocked to see the Finance Committee coming in at a proposed 1.77 percent school tax.
As such, Moramarco put forward a motion to go to exactly up to the 2 percent cap. He said he thought the money could be well used.
Following the board’s adoption of the 2 percent levy, Deserable said the finance office would need to go back in and take a look at the calculations as to what it would translate to for taxpayers.
For more updates on the budget, visit haddonfieldsun.com.
