Lost positions, tax hike are result of continuing state aid loss
The Lenape Regional High School District has had to cut costs to balance its 2023-’24 budget because of an ongoing reduction in state aid.
The district board of education adopted the $174.9-million general fund budget at a meeting on April 26. It increases taxes for six of the eight municipalities served by the district.
Board member David Stow outlined the cost-cutting measures, including the use of several one-time only revenue sources; elimination of 20 positions through attrition, among them two principals; and expansion of the non-resident, tuition-based program this fall at Seneca High School.
State aid decreased by more than $1.1 million – or 4.73% – for the current school year, a total decrease of $23.6 million. The reductions followed a slight decrease in district enrollment and passage of the S-2 school funding bill in July 2018. The latter will result in a state aid reduction of $7.3 million over seven years, for a cumulative loss of $26 million, officials said.
The property tax levy to support the 2023-’24 operating budget is $134.24 million, an increase of 2.07% over last year. Budget costs include health benefits, which increased by $679,141 – or 2.8% – to $24.3 million.
The state aid formula has underfunded Lenape district special education by more than $3.2 million. According to Superintendent Carol Birnbohm, the aid continues to comprise a lower percentage of the annual district budget, declining from nearly 40% in the 1994-’95 school year to a projected decrease of 14.77% in 2024-’25.
Stow said the one-time use of revenue sources includes excess surplus from fiscal year 2022, the anticipated fund balance from fiscal year 2023, supplemental stabilization aid, stimulus funds and a withdrawal from the district’s capital reserve funds.
Stabilization aid will result in an award of $775,551, funds that will be used to save positions and improve technology in district schools. The district’s sources of revenue include about $11.6 million in grants and close to $4 million in community donations to athletic and academic programs since 2007.
“The community continues to overwhelm us with their generosity,” Stow said.
Other budget-saving measures include expansion of the non-resident, tuition-based pilot programs for ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Automotive certification, JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) and Project Lead the Way at Seneca next year. A non-resident, tuition-based special education program called Project Search will be available to students 19 to 21 years old.
The district is considering other revenue sources, including an increase in the participation fee for athletics, the possible sale of the Evans House property and cell-tower rental fees.
Taxes will increase in six of the district’s eight municipalities, but numbers have not changed since the budget was introduced in March.
- Evesham Township – Tax levy increase of 2.70 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $76.45 on a home assessed at the township average of $272,628.
- Medford Township – Tax levy increase of 1.75 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $100.97 on a home assessed at the township average of $329,349.
- Medford Lakes Borough – Tax levy decrease of 1.33 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $36.59 on a home assessed at the borough average of $288,880.
- Mount Laurel Township – Tax levy decrease of 0.77 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $16.07 on a home assessed at the township average of $238,200.
- Shamong Township – Tax levy increase of 2.58 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $82.24 on a home assessed at the township average of $309,768.
- Southampton Township – Tax levy increase of 5.37 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $106.09 on a home assessed at the township average of $192,805.
- Tabernacle Township – Tax levy increase of 2.51 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $92.49 on a home assessed at the township average of $274,246.
- Woodland Township – Tax levy increase of 2.81 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $78.68 on a home assessed at the township average of $256,300.
The Lenape district’s four high schools – Lenape, Shawnee, Cherokee and Seneca – as well as the Sequoia Alternative and Transition to Adulthood programs, have about 6,800 students from eight communities in Burlington County.
For more information, visit www.lrhsd.org.
