By Lea Kahn
An unexpected increase in state aid has made the difference between a proposed 5-cent school district property tax rate increase and the 3-cent increase to support the proposed 2011-12 Lawrence Township public school district budget.
School district officials learned that the public school district would receive $672,646 more in state aid for 2011-12, just a few hours before the proposed $64.6 million operating budget was unveiled before the Lawrence Township Board of Education on Feb. 24.
The school board gave preliminary approval to the proposed budget at last week’s special meeting. The next step is to submit the spending plan to the Mercer County Executive Superintendent for approval. A public hearing will be held between March 22 and March 29.
Voters will be asked to approve the proposed $57.3 million tax levy to support the budget at the annual school board election, set for April 27.
The increase in state aid — from $1.5 million to $2.2 million — has allowed school district officials to limit the property tax rate increase to 3 cents. The proposed tax rate would be $2.33 per $100 of assessed value, up from $2.30.
This means the owner of a house assessed at the 2011 township average of $161,292 would pay $3,758 in school district property taxes, based on a tax rate of $2.33. Last year, the owner of a house assessed at the 2010 township average of $163,447 paid $3,759 on the basis of the $2.30 tax rate.
School district officials were quick to point out that the 3-cent tax rate increase is due to a decline in the township’s ratable base, which has dropped by $122 million in the last two years. None of the tax rate increase is a result of increased school district spending.
Meanwhile, the proposed $64.6 million budget for 2011-12 is $425,491 less than the current $65 million budget. School district officials attributed some of the savings to salary freezes and an increase in employees’ contributions toward their health benefits.
They also pointed to $354,000 in net revenue from the district’s solar energy initiative, which placed solar panels on the roofs of every school building in the district. The district sells solar renewable energy credits (SREC) that are generated by the solar panels.
School board President Laura Waters and Superintendent of Schools Philip Meara were surprised and pleased at the increase in state aid. They noted that last year, state aid was reduced by $3.5 million.
Ms. Waters said one could look at it as a glass half-empty or a glass half-full. She said she was going to choose “to be grateful for the money that has been bestowed on us.”
”This was an amazing bit of news we got last night,” Mr. Meara said at the special meeting. “I never thought I would say this, but I applaud the governor (for increasing state aid).”
Mr. Meara outlined the proposed budget for the school board. The budget allows the district to continue its plans for the career academies at Lawrence High School, and to continue its own internal testing program for students. The goal is to monitor students’ academic progress throughout the year, he said.
Smaller class sizes are still in the budget for the elementary schools, as well as money for courtesy busing, Mr. Meara said. The full-day kindergarten program is intact. There will be no impact on athletic programs, he said.
When Slack Avenue resident Pepper Evans asked what would be different next year, Mr. Meara replied that “you are not going to see anything different.” There won’t be any changes in staffing levels at the schools, he said.
”This is all based on the budget (tax levy) passing,” Mr. Meara said. “If the budget fails, it goes to Township Council, and everything is back on the table.”

