By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The Lawrenceville School has agreed to nearly double its annual contribution to Lawrence Township after discussions between the private boarding school’s administrators and Lawrence Township officials.
The Lawrenceville School which is tax exempt and does not have to pay property taxes on its real estate holdings has been voluntarily contributing $35,000 annually to the township. But starting this year, the school will contribute an additional $30,000, for a total of $65,000.
Mayor Greg Puliti made the announcement at Township Council’s June 9 meeting. The mayor, Councilman Bob Bostock and Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun met with officials of The Lawrenceville School about two weeks ago to discuss general affairs.
The township delegation spoke about the municipal budget, the services the township provides to the school and the overall relationship between the two entities, said Mayor Puliti.
”We asked them if they could maybe increase their contribution,” he said.
Mayor Puliti said they discussed the issue of property taxes. The private school does not pay property taxes on faculty housing on its campus, which has been an issue for both the municipality and the public school district. School district officials have pointed out that children from the private school who live in the tax-exempt housing attend the Lawrence Township public schools.
The New Jersey School Boards Association has said it plans to lobby for proposed bills in the state Legislature that would require private schools and colleges to reimburse public school districts for the cost of educating children who live in tax-exempt housing on the institutions’ property.
And the New Jersey State League of Municipalities adopted a resolution at its annual convention last year that would remove tax-exempt status from faculty housing on campus and add those units to the property tax rolls.
Mr. Bostock said there was “a frank and forthright discussion.”
The school’s leadership is aware of the township’s concerns and the size of its contribution to the municipality, he said, praising Head Master Elizabeth Duffy for “stepping up to the plate.”
Mr. Bostock said “it is a real leap” for The Lawrenceville School to nearly double its contribution to the township. It reflects the school’s understanding that township residents are carrying a “heavy” tax burden, he said.
The additional money brings the school’s total contribution close to the $81,000 municipal tax bill it would pay if taxed. He also pointed to the school’s $2,500 contribution to the township’s fireworks fund and that the school allows township groups to use its facilities.
The school recently allowed Lawrenceville Elementary School to use Abbott Dining Hall for a fund-raiser, said Lisa Gillard Hanson, the private school’s director of public relations.
The school also has allowed the Ben Franklin Elementary School to use one of its large meeting rooms, and an assortment of local schools have used the private school’s athletic facilities, said Ms. Gillard Hanson.
And The Lawrenceville School contributes $60,000 annually to the nonprofit Lawrence Township Education Foundation, which gives grants to public school teachers for special projects.
