Cherry Hill residents will see an increase in school taxes this year, according to the preliminary budget passed by the Board of Education at last week’s work session.
The proposed budget features an increase of $87 in school taxes for the average assessed home of $223,500. This equates to a tax rate increase of 1.91 percent, just below the 2 percent cap.
Assistant Superintendent James Devereaux said a revaluation in the township last year caused a slight uptick in ratables, however the difference is not enough to make up for the lack of state aid the district has continued to receive. Cherry Hill schools will receive $12,949,463 in state aid for 2014–15, an increase of about $200,000 from last year.
Despite the increase, Devereaux said state aid is not up the level it was at five years ago, despite increasing costs over the same period of time.
“We were at $16,516,000, now we’re at $12,949,463,” Devereaux said. “So we’re still down about 20 percent from where we were in 08–09.”
Out of the total budget, 87.25 percent is covered by the local tax levy, while a little more than 7 percent is covered through state aid.
The lack of state aid the district is receiving has become a concern to both the administration and board. Board member Steve Robbins said he, with other board members, have had meetings with members of the Legislature about Cherry Hill’s state aid issues.
“The bulk of the districts are not back to 100 percent,” he said. “But we lag significantly.”
To help support the budget, $6,169,638 of fund balance from the 2013–14 year is being carried over. In addition, the district has earmarked $1,023,798 from capital reserve for use in 2014–15.
With a lack of state aid, Devereaux said the district has been conservative with increasing its budget from year to year. The total budget has increased 4.23 percent since 2008–2009.
Superintendent Maureen Reusche said no cuts have been made to programs. In addition, eight full-time positions will be added next year. Seven positions were eliminated, but all were vacant and no employees are losing jobs.
“We’re not telling anyone that there’s not a place for them if they already work here,” she said.
The public hearing for 2014–15 budget is scheduled for the action meeting on April 29.
In other news:
• Reusche said the district is still working on a solution to make up the shortfall in school days for high school seniors. Currently, the senior class needs to make up two additional school days due to snow.
The district has discussed holding Saturday sessions, but after meeting with teachers, students and parents, Reusche said there were concerns raised about having school on Saturday because of religious reasons.
“We already know, for religious reasons, even if a child wants to come to school, they will not come,” she said.
The district is currently looking at Monday, April 14, and Saturday, April 26, as possible make up days, but no decision has been made yet. Reusche said online opportunities are also being considered in lieu of a school day.
Board member Sherrie Cohen asked if the students could participate in a project rather than attend school. Reusche said the county superintendent would not accept that alternative.
• Students from Cherry Hill High School West performed a number from their musical, “In The Heights.” The musical opens on March 21 and will run through March 29.
• The next Cherry Hill Board of Education meeting will be on March 25 at 7 p.m. in the Malberg board room.
