Black Horse Pike Schools Approve Tax Cut

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — At a time when people are out of work and the future is uncertain due to the outbreak of new coronavirus, Gloucester Township residents got some good news from the high school district Thursday night: their taxes are going down. However, things might change after the state releases its updated budget later this year.

The Black Horse Pike Regional School District Board of Education unanimously approved an $80,617,409 budget with a 2.42 percent tax rate decrease when it met virtually via Zoom Thursday night.

The owner of the average Gloucester Township home valued at $188,000 will see a reduction of $34.28 in their taxes annually. The tax levy is $34,724,474, down from last year's levy of $35,586,132.

The reduction is the result of the district not having any debt service for the 2020-21 school year. The total budget actually increased by 2.14 percent over last year, even though taxes are going down.

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The district cautioned residents that the $35,892,659 in state aid included in the budget is based on the state budget address given by Gov. Phil Murphy in February, before the coronavirus pandemic threw the economy into complete disarray nationwide.

Another budget address will take place in late August, and officials expect it to impact state aid. A recent research report from the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs at Rutgers University–Camden indicated that the district would have to raise property taxes by 10.6 percent if there were to be a 10 percent reduction in school aid. Read more here: Budget Crises Possible For Gloucester Township School Districts

The district gets 45.32 percent of its funding through state aid and another 43.83 percent from local taxes, according to their presentation made during the budget hearing.

The district makes up one component of residents’ property taxes, along with the municipality, the Gloucester Township K-8 Public School District and the county. It encompasses Highland, Timber Creek and Triton regional high schools.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know