General fund tax levy, raised through local taxes, would be $2,880,743, a 6 percent increase over last year
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — The average homeowner in the city would pay about $80 more in property taxes if voters approve Lambertville Public School’s nearly $3.29 million budget at the polls April 21.
The general fund tax levy, raised through local taxes, would be $2,880,743, a 6 percent increase over last year.
That’s almost $30 more for the average taxpayer than the Board of Education initially had planned when it approved the preliminary budget March 17 with a tax levy of $2,826,389 or a 4 percent change.
Still, that’s not as much as the district is permitted to raise the tax levy. The New Jersey Department of Education would have allowed LPS to increase the levy by 9 percent or $130,159 more than the original spending plan called for.
”Considering these awful economic times, we were not comfortable going higher,” board President Steven Wolock said.
According to a statement released by LPS, “The difference between the initial 4 percent increase in the general fund levy and the proposed 6 percent increase is $27 per year. Twenty-seven dollars generates $54,354 for the school district, enabling us to afford a one day per week Spanish language program (not ESL), which meets the mandated New Jersey Department of Education Core Curriculum World Language requirement and much-needed instructional equipment, materials and supplies, including a new math program, a laptop cart for students and more.”
In addition, the district said it chose to increase the levy by 6 percent, rather than the 9 percent it was permitted, “because it is the fiscally responsible thing to do, particularly considering these difficult economic times. We will certainly put the $54,354 to good use.”
The tax rate would be 38.9 cents per $100 of assessed value. For the owner of a house assessed at the city average of $371,729, the tax bill would be $1,446.03. That’s an $80.93 increase over last year.
Last year, the tax rate was 37.2 cents per $100 of assessed value. The owner of a house assessed at the average of $366,963 paid $1,365.10.
The increase is attributed to several areas:
— The district said “sorely needed” technology upgrades will cost $35,000. These include a laptop cart for students, a smart board and technology support.
The cost will be offset by $10,000 in grants from the Lambertville Area Education Foundation, the school’s PTA and the smart board company, according to the district.
— The Spanish language program will cost about $7,000.
— For the math program, the district needs about $12,300 for classroom materials, software and supplies.
LPS has undertaken a number of cost-saving measures, Mr. Wolock said. Also, grants help, too, such as the $1,200 from the LAEF to support the school’s Web site.
A reduction in the number of hours Superintendent Todd Fay will spend overseeing LPS will save the school about $20,000.
LPS and West Amwell Elementary share Dr. Fay’s time and split the salary half and half. A change next year will see him devote 60 percent to West Amwell and 40 percent to LPS because the latter has fewer students. West Amwell is predicting an enrollment of 252, up from 249. LPS anticipates 140 students, up from 132.
The school will save about $9,000 by freezing administrators’ salaries. Dr. Fay’s salary will remain at $166,669, and Principal Gail Tress’ salary will remain at $99,085.
LPS and West Amwell also share Business Administrator Donna Tolley. Each school pays half of her salary, which will remain at $115,000 next year.
LPS also is keeping more special education students in-house, rather than placing them out of district. This has saved the school about $87,000 since 2007-08, according to the district.
”We sort of feel there’s no place like home, to quote Dorothy, and we feel we provide a good education,” Mr. Wolock said.
In addition, LPS is looking to the future, studying ways to reduce its energy consumption, Mr. Wolock said. The school is an all-electric building.