The average Mt. Laurel homeowner can expect a slight increase in local school taxes in 2014–15, according to the preliminary budget passed by the Board of Education last week.
The 2014–15 budget features an increase of $14 for the average assessed home of $236,952. This figure comes after a revaluation bumped the average home value in Mt. Laurel up to $142,100 last year to the current figure.
The tax levy is increasing 2 percent, the maximum that can be done without sending the budget to a referendum vote. The tax rate dropped to .0102 because of the revaluation.
Director of communications Marie Reynolds said the formula for the tax levy was complicated this year due to a revaluation. Last year’s revaluation saw total tax ratables in Mt. Laurel increase by more than $2 billion. Last week’s presentation gave just a brief explanation of this year’s tax levy, but a more detailed answer will be given during the public hearing.
“We will do a more extensive explanation of the budget during the public hearing,” Reynolds said. “It has to go before the county just to get things moving.”
With taxes being raised to the 2 percent cap, Reynolds said the district can avoid making cuts to programs and find a way to finance necessary capital improvements. This comes despite a meager amount of state aid.
“The 2 percent cap keeps that from hitting the taxpayers too hard,” she said. “We’re not looking to go over the top. We don’t want to do a referendum.”
The school district did receive a slight increase in state aid for next year. State aid increased $77,570. However, $32,187 of that money was reduced for debt service, leaving the district with just an additional $45,383.
Overall, the district is receiving $4,342,882 in state aid, about $1.5 million less than what it received in 2009–10.
“We were happy with not being cut,” Reynolds said. “But it wasn’t a huge bump for us.”
The presentation given by Superintendent Antoinette Rath and Assistant Superintendent for Business Robert Wachter highlighted some of the capital improvements included in the budget. There were no major projects listed, with a new gym and cafeteria divider at Larchmont Elementary School and window and door replacement at Harrington Middle School highlighting the list.
Reynolds said the district also has to replace five school buses and a pick-up truck next year. These capital improvements are all necessary, but minor projects.
The tentative budget was sent to the county superintendent for approval. The public hearing for the budget will be on Wednesday, April 30.
In other news:
• Harrington Middle School eighth grader Sakshi Chopra received an award from the Board of Education for finishing in second place in the Alice Paul Chapter’s Feminist Essay Contest. Chopra did an essay about Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and education rights for girls. Chopra’s teacher, Jennifer Rotella, also received an award.
• April’s action meeting was moved to Wednesday, April 30 at the district administration building. The meeting was moved to allow for an extra day prior to adopting the 2014–15 budget.
• The next Mt. Laurel Board of Education work session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the administration building.
