Officials express caution over potential school tax relief
The Haddonfield Board of Education voted July 26 to commit $318,014 in additional state aid to the school district’s general fund.
The extra money was a result of Gov. Murphy’s budget agreement and represents an increase of 40 percent from the 2017–2018 state aid to the district, according to statistics released by the governor’s office.
“We’ve just kept the money in the general fund so we’re not earmarking it for specific things,” Board Member Glenn Moramarco said during the July 26 meeting.
Moramarco said school officials looked into several options before deciding the money should be distributed into the general fund, which goes toward curriculum and instruction, special education and facility upgrades.
It’s a wait-and-see approach with the understanding that the situation in Trenton could change quickly.
“We’re hopeful that in future years that, if they continue to increase our aid — which is the intent of the governor and the legislation — we will be able to provide some modest tax relief to people,” Moramarco added. “But at this stage, it’s probably a little bit too early to make that kind of commitment.”
As previously reported by The Sun, the board approved a 2018–2019 budget in April that increased total school taxes by 3.29 percent, or $265 for an average assessed home of $491,674.
Moramarco said a formula used by the state has determined the school taxes in Haddonfield are not high enough.
“I know people don’t feel that, but under their formula, we’re a little bit under what they say a community of our affluence can afford,” he said.
However, school officials said the district will not be affected by new state legislation that could force districts that are losing state aid and underspend to raise taxes.
At June’s board meeting, several parents raised concerns over the class sizes at Tatum Elementary School, and Board Member Matthew Ritter asked whether the additional $318,014 in state aid could go toward hiring an extra teacher or two.
“It wouldn’t cover that, and then you still have the issue of where do you put them,” Board Vice President Susan Kutner said in response. “There are no free classrooms to do that.”
Board Member David Siedell also cautioned against using the boost in state aid for staffing increases at the district’s schools.
“When you’re hiring a person, it’s not like buying a thing,” Siedell said. “You’re making a commitment to a person. So, a permanent decision like hiring someone should use a permanent funding source like the tax levy.”
