For a Voorhees homeowner with an average assessed home value at $257,866, the monthly tax bill will increase about $3 from the previous year.
The Voorhees Township Public Schools passed its 2017–2018 budget at its May 3 meeting.
For a Voorhees homeowner with an average assessed home valued at $257,866, the monthly tax bill will increase about $3 from the previous year.
The budget totals $54,194,740, which is $1,420 lower than last year’s.
The local tax levy increased 1.98 percent from the prior year, and provides 84.3 percent of the total budget. This year it is anticipated to total $45,657,379, up from last year’s $44,762,136.
The district’s annual debt service has dropped $1.2 million over the last two years. An estimated $1,054,400 will be paid in debt this year.
The general fund increased 1 percent from last year. It takes up $52,285,283 of the budget. The general fund accounts for day-to-day expenses, supplies and salaries.
Aside from the tax levy, 11 percent of the budget will come from state aid, and 1.6 percent will come from federal aid.
Expenses this year include new integrated science textbooks from Next Generation Science Standards. The books promise to provide a 21st century learning and teaching experience for students and teachers.
All existing programs and services will be maintained.
The district’s budget lists some of its main goals to be achievement of high academic standards, to reduce energy usage and to provide classrooms with technology that reflects 21st century skills.
Also at the meeting, several school nurses spoke on behalf of being allowed to leave the school building during designated lunch hours.
“Mandating that nurses remain in the building means that we are now on call,” school nurse Jennifer Dougan said. The nurses pointed out they cannot be required to be on call.
No members of the board of education responded to the request.
The next Board of Education meeting will take place Wednesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the administrative building located at 329 Route 73.
