Medford residents could see an increase in their local school tax bill this year. The Medford School District Board of Education approved the 2015–16 budget during its second hearing at the April 27 Board of Education meeting.
According to the preliminary tax rate, residents with an average assessed home of $327,915 would see an increase of $82.49 in K-8 school taxes as a result of this budget, a 2.52 percent increase from last year.
The total amount of the tentative budget is $51.9 million, and the district received $4.7 million in state funding despite the $5.1 million listed as state sources on the agenda.
“This is a state special fund that we don’t really see much of. That money typically goes to the St. Mary of the Lakes School and special projects,” Business Administrator Chad Fires said.
This total consists of the general fund at $48.63 million, the special revenue fund at $732,219 and the total debt service fund at $2.62 million.
The budget utilizes statutorily allowed adjustment for increase in health-care costs in the amount of $286,542 and statutorily allowed use of banked tax levy cap in the amount of $500,746.
This increase is for the purposes of replacing six school buses via lease purchase, three restored instructional-related arts positions and four new special education instructional positions. The district intends to complete this by June.
There are also a few minor capital projects in the works. The Cranberry Pines Elementary School greenhouse will be receiving minor renovations, receiving a new roof, three sidewalls and a few exterior doors that need to be replaced.
The Medford Township Board of Education and state Department of Education have approved the adoption of the budget as set forth and approved it to be in effect beginning July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
One small concern in regard to the future is enrollment numbers.
“We are down 115 students from last year in our district,” Superintendent Joseph Del Rossi said. “Going to full-day kindergarten has spiked an increase in our projections for next year, but again, these are just projections, you can never tell what will actually happen come next August or September.”
