Cherry Hill Public Schools’ administration has found a solution.
Staffing cuts have been taken off the table as the potential source to close the $628,000 shortfall in the 2013–2014 school budget.
“The district has instituted a budget freeze for the current budget and will carry over funding from this year to close the gap,” said Susan Bastnagel, the district’s spokeswoman following the Tuesday, Feb. 12 work session meeting.
Previously, at the Tuesday, Feb. 5 budget discussion, officials had cited human resources as comprising 80 percent of the budget.
A budget is being recommended at the 2 percent state mandated tax cap, she said, but the impact to local homeowners is not yet known due to the recent revaluation.
“Prior to the revaluation, the average assessment was $140,000, now the average assessment is $225,000,” Bastnagel said.
A budget workshop that was tentatively scheduled to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19 was canceled.
Business Administrator Jim Devereaux will provide more tax impact details at the school board’s monthly action meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Malberg Administration Building.
The district is anticipating flat state aid, but will know the specific amount of aid following Gov. Christie’s Feb. 26 address.
Numbers should be released by Feb. 28.
