By MELISSA DIPENTO
The Mt. Laurel Schools Board of Education voted on a tentative $55,641,594 budget last night.
The total tax levy increased by 1.87 percent from the 2010–2011 budget, increasing the tax rate by 3.5 cents.
The average home assessed at $142,000 will see an approximate increase of $49.77 in their tax bill. The average home assessed at $200,000 would see a $70 increase.
Superintendent Antoinette Rath explained the increase to the board.
“The tax increase of 3.5 cents represented in the tentative budget is the result of a flat or reduced totals in every line item except health benefits and pension contributions. It required exceptional regard for the taxpayers due to a combined decline of $30 million in ratables here in Mt. Laurel over the past two years,” Rath said. “While that drop is not a factor we can overcome at the school level, we recognize the need to share the burden of the sacrifice.”
The board unanimously voted to approve the tentative budget and submit it to the county by today’s deadline.
Marie Reynolds, the district’s director of communications said the county has until March 29 to approve or rework the budget.
Be sure to check back here and in next week’s paper for continuing school budget coverage.
