In a recent edition of The Sun, a group of Voorhees residents who favor passage of the 2011–12 school budget stated that rejecting the budget last year resulted in a tax savings of only $13 for the average homeowner. But that is an incomplete argument.
By state law, when a school budget fails to pass, it goes to the Township Committee which makes recommendations for adjusting the budget. Last year, the district’s proposed tax increase was cut by only $13 because that’s all the Township Committee recommended to be cut. This minimal adjustment to the defeated school budget was then sent back to the school board who eagerly accepted and adopted it. In short, both the school boards and the Township Committee ignored the will of the voters last year and pushed through yet another tax increase.
Don’t let this happen again this year. Vote NO on the school budgets with their proposed tax increases, and then hold the Township Committee’s feet to the fire to make serious cost-cutting recommendations. They can start with having school staff contribute more than 1.5 percent of their salaries toward their generous health benefits.
Holding the line on our taxes and maintaining high performing schools are not mutually exclusive outcomes.
Tracye McArdle
