| Author |
Message |
    
Ucnthndlthtruth
| | Posted on Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 3:40 pm: |     |
"Cap increase raises taxes"
By: Maria Zingaro, Staff Writer February 15, 2001
News Record
"The recent increase to the budget cap for the South Orange-Maplewood School districts budget for 2001-2002 will also mean increases to taxes for local property taxpayers over the levels originally proposed by school administrators when the budget was first introduced in January.
The cap, which limits a district s spending for the year, was announced by the New Jersey Department of Education on Jan. 24. At nearly $65.9 million, the states figure for South Orange-Maplewood came in at more than $1.7 million over the number estimated by local officials.
A
nother $585,000 has been suggested for the separate proposal, a budget category not restricted under the cap. If the entire budget is funded, including the amount requested under the separate proposal, the total amount to be raised in taxes for the coming school year $62,438,399 will increase 5.3 percent over the current year s levels, according to district estimates. Without the separate proposal, the amount to be raised would be $61,853,379, which is up by 4.3 percent over last years levels.
The increases for the calendar year 2001 will differ somewhat however, since the calendar year and the school year do not coincide.
Assuming passage of the separate proposal, South Orange will contribute about $25.6 million or 42 percent of the total school tax burden, while Maple wood s share will be $35.2 million or about 58 percent.
Tax rates also will be differentially affected by the increase. In South Orange, the tax rate for schools will rise from $2.41 to $2.57 per $100 of assessed valuation. For the average home in the village, assessed at $218,900, the new school tax will come to $5,615, up by $340 over last years average tax of $5,275.
In Maple wood, the tax will rise from $5.98 to $6.36 per $100 of assessed valuation. For the average home in Maple wood, currently valued at $72,000, taxes will rise $272 over last year s level of $4,306 to $4,578.
Board of School Estimate members, who ultimately have the final say on the school tax rate, say they will hold off on giving their opinions on the budget until they have had more time to review the figures. BSE members got their first chance to discuss the budget last week with Board of Education members during an educational liaison committee meeting held Feb. 8.
BSE member and South Orange Village President Bill Calabrese said he was pleased the proposed tax rate was lower than it has been in most previous years. I think the school board is doing a very good job of keeping the tax increases to a minimum, he said. We are not at the high end of spending money on students. . . I can t fault the school board. I would like to see the taxes come in at zero, but I'm realistic.
According to the March 2000 New Jersey Department of Education Comparative Spending Guide, the South Orange-Maple wood school district, in 1999-2000, spent $8,437 per pupil, which is below the statewide average of $8,505 per pupil and below the average for all K-12 districts, $8,487. Among the 15 schools in its district factor group, South Orange-Maple wood was sixth highest in per-pupil spending. Livingston, which spent $10,485 per pupil during 1999-2000, had the highest rate in this group.
BSE member Allan Rosen, also of South Orange, said he was dismayed by the fact that the amount of financial aid offered to the school district by the state had not been increased over last years levels. I don't think our district has been treated as fairly as some of the other districts. It seems unconscionable to me that Millburn is getting additional money and we don t, he said. There is something wrong with the way our formulas are working.
The other issue of particular interest to BSE members this year, as in years past, will be the separate proposal request. We heard a preliminary explanation as to why these items are needed and I want to discuss them in more detail, noted BSE member and Maple wood Mayor Vic DeLuca. At this point, I'm not ready to make a decision as to how I would vote on those.
I am looking favorably upon it, said BSE member Ellen Davenport, also of Maplewood, of the separate proposal. However, Davenport qualified her support, noting that, before she cast her final vote, she, too, would need more time to review the budget. I just really want to look at it line item by line item, she said."
When you add these increases to the increases many will see in their property taxes (including the majority in "the middle" of town) as the result of the reval and you have to ask, "What are we getting in return ?" |
|