Final Vote On Moorestown School District's $69.7 Million Budget Is April 25

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The owner of an average $534,100 Moorestown home can expect an annual increase of $102 in school taxes under the school district’s proposed $69.7 million budget, the Moorestown Board of Education said Thursday morning.

This year’s budget includes a 1.9 percent tax increase, including the retirement of debt service into the 2 percent tax levy increase.

“Simply maintaining existing programs and staffing into the 2017-2018 school year would increase the budget beyond the allowable 2 percent tax levy cap,” the Board of Education said in a statement. “This is due to increases in salary and benefits, utilities, transportation and other fixed costs. Salaries and benefits alone account for 81 percent of the school budget.”

The Board of Education approved the preliminary budget on March 15, and it has since been approved by the Executive County Superintendent.

The public hearing and final vote on the budget is scheduled for April 25 at the William Allen Middle School, 7 p.m.

According to the budget presentation posted on the district’s website, the district faced a deficit of $2,249,727.08 as of Jan. 26, and has cut that deficit to $59,775 through reductions in new personnel requests, special education, and technology, and additional adjustments in the areas of technology and transportation.

View the presentation to see the full list of what factored into this year's budget.

The Board of Education is addressing the district’s financial issues with the following initiatives:

• Allowing the schools to be used for summer camp delivery, before and after school care, Academy of Excellence, Summer Enrichment, and 2017-2018 tuition student opportunities, to generate a total of $770,000 for the district;
• Monitoring energy usage, planned replacements for inefficient systems and seeking rebates under energy efficiency programs; and
• Negotiating costs for health care benefits in labor contracts, which resulted in over $1.8 million in cost avoidance over the contract terms.

“In the upcoming year’s budget, we are pleased that curriculum and programs not only remain, but are expanded,” the Board of Education said. “The proposed budget includes investments in curriculum, new science and math textbooks, fine and performing arts equipment, and technology to support the implementation.”

It has also asked the public to help the district with its financial issues by expressing support for fair state funding by contacting their local representatives.

“Only 5.4% of Moorestown’s budget comes from state aid, and we are neglected entirely in categories of aid such as Adjustment Aid and Equalization Aid,” the Board of Education said.

They also encourage the public to use their programs, including student before and after care, extended day kindergarten, and the Academy of Excellence, among others, as well as offering any ideas they might have, including sponsorship opportunities.

How do you feel about this year's budget? Let us know in the comments section below.