The budget includes a $92 school tax increase for the average assessed home valued at $450,470.
The Moorestown Board of Education unanimously adopted the 2018–2019 budget at last Tuesday night’s special meeting, and residents can expect a tax increase with the average assessed home valued at $450,470 facing an additional $92 in school taxes.
The total budget is $72,046,232 with approximately $62,936,029 to be raised through taxation. The district received a 9.4 percent increase in state aid this year, which resulted in approximately $300,000 in additional funding.
Business Administrator and Board Secretary Joanne D’Angelo said the sole change to the preliminary budget that was submitted to the executive county superintendent of schools for approval was a $30,000 increase in anticipated miscellaneous revenues.
D’Angelo said following the board’s March 27 meeting where the preliminary budget was presented, the board held another budget workshop. She said at the that time, the board considered several issues, and by the end of the meeting, the board came to the consensus to increase the budget to allow for one half-time teacher of American Sign Language. She said this budget accommodates that cost by anticipating an additional $30,000 in additional miscellaneous revenues.
Board of Education Vice President David Weinstein said he appreciated the board’s efforts to incorporate ASL into the budget. He said he viewed ASL as the first step toward expanding the district’s language offerings.
“We’re actually trying to build new programs for the first time since I’ve been here,” Weinstein said. “We’re really trying to move forward and not focus on how we can cut this budget as much but how are we going to start expanding our programs.”
In addition to the ASL instructor, the district will also be adding a part-time school nurse and part-time psychologist to support student health and safety, D’Angelo said. Salaries and benefits account for approximately 80 percent of the district’s budget with all other expenditures around 20 percent.
D’Angelo said the board also seemed interested in pursuing full-day kindergarten as a possible strategic plan issue moving forward.
“So even though it is not included in this budget, it is still definitely on the radar and important to the board,” D’Angelo said.
Board President Sandra Alberti said she appreciated the long-range thinking that went into this year’s budget and the opportunity to say “if not this year, then when” regarding full-day kindergarten.
“I think [the budget] was very much shaped by what we thought was best in supporting the students and the staff of this community,” Alberti said.
The next meeting of the Moorestown Board of Education will take place on Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. in William Allen Middle School.
