By Amber Cox, Special Writer
FLORENCE — The final $24.8 million operating 2012-13 budget for the Florence Township School District, unanimously approved March 29, includes a $107.86 tax increase for the district.
Residents will have a tax rate of $1.396 per $100 of assessed value. Homeowners assessed at the average $229,500 will pay $3,203.82 in taxes.
Officials said the board plans to maintain reasonable class sizes and retain important services for children, including guidance, library, nurses and curricular experiences through this budget.
However, the budget will eliminate a home economics teacher, eighth-grade math teacher, third-grade teacher, special education teacher, two instructional assistants, a 10-month director of curriculum and a part-time high school instrumental music teacher.
Although cuts are being made, new positions were added into the budget and include a full-time substance abuse counselor, fourth-grade teacher, high school in-school suspension monitor and various co-curricular positions.
In the case of the 10-month director of curriculum position being eliminated, department liaisons will receive stipends for doing the director’s duties.
The school district received a $55,165 increase in state aid for the 2012-13 fiscal year. The budget is within the state-mandated 2 percent cap, therefore, the public will not get a vote on it. The district has moved its school board election to November.
The next work session meeting of the Florence School Board will be held April 16, and the regular meeting is scheduled for April 23.
