WW-P’s school tax rises for West Windsor, dips for Plainsboro

A shifting balance in property values in the two townships is the cause

By: Nick Norlen
   PLAINSBORO — The proposed West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District budget impacts taxpayers in the two townships in completely opposite ways.
   The budget will increase West Windsor residents’ school tax rates by 6 cents, while reducing Plainsboro’s rate by a penny because of the shifting ratio of property values in the two townships.
   The district is proposing a total budget of $147,155,853 — up 4.3 percent from last year.
   And while the total tax levy for both townships will only increase 3.2 percent because of the district’s use of $4.5 million in surplus funds, that percentage increase is overall — it would not be shared by both townships equally.
   Plainsboro’s tax levy is estimated at $52,961,000, a .3 percent decrease, while West Windsor’s total is $75,680,000, a 5.7 percent increase.
   That translates to a rate of $1.20 per $100 of assessed valuation for West Windsor residents — up from $1.14 in 2006.
   In Plainsboro, the rate would decrease from $1.45 to $1.44.
   The tax levy figures were derived from the equalized valuation reported by each township.
   In 2006, Plainsboro’s equalized valuation was approximately $3,947,000,000, while West Windsor’s was estimated at $5,826,000,000, a split of 40.4 percent and 59.6 percent. Those ratios establish the tax split for the two municipalities in the proposed budget.
   The budget for the current school year is based on a 2005 equalized valuation of 42.2 percent for Plainsboro and 57.8 percent in West Windsor. The new budget, therefore, shifts more of the tax burden to West Windsor, reflecting its greater share of total property value.
   Assistant Superintendent for Finance Larry Shanok talked about the budget at the March 13 board meeting.
   He called the 4.3 percent proposed budget increase "rather moderate," and noted that the tax levy numbers are the result of equalized valuation — and therefore out of the district’s control.
   "Hopefully we can remind people that we’re doing pretty well with things that are under our control," he said.
   Mr. Shanok said the district was able to accumulate the $4.5 million of surplus it used to defray the tax levy costs through "careful, parsimonious ways during 2005-2006."
   He said the budget will provide for "high student achievement at a reasonable cost to the community."
   Significant general expenses include $46.6 million for regular instruction and $21.2 million for special services — both 4.9 percent increases from last year.
   Mr. Shanok said he hopes district residents don’t react adversely to the increases.
   "Unfortunately, I think a number of those things can draw the unhappiness of various people in the community and sometimes they see their only opportunity to have a direct voice is in our vote," he said. "I hope we can all get that across to the community and build community support."
   Formal adoption of the budget is scheduled after a public hearing 7:30 p.m. March 27 at Community Middle School.
   District residents will vote on the budget during the April 17 election.