As Cherry Hill braces for significant cuts in state aid, the local school board has approved a budget that will raise property taxes. However, hope remains as two bills in the State Senate could potentially alleviate some of the financial strain on the district.
At a recent Board of Education meeting, Cherry Hill schools passed a $251.6 million budget, which is expected to result in an average increase of $195 in property taxes for homeowners. This decision comes amidst preparations for substantial reductions in state aid, making it one of the largest cuts among New Jersey districts for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.
Despite the approved budget, the Cherry Hill community is closely watching developments in Trenton, where two bills are under consideration. The Assembly has already given its approval to both measures, offering a glimmer of hope for additional funding for the district.
Under Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed budget, Cherry Hill is slated to receive $29.5 million in state-equalization aid, a significant drop from the $36.4 million allocated in the current school year.
One of the proposed bills in the State Senate aims to provide relief to districts facing aid reductions by offering grants equivalent to two-thirds of the cut funding. Moreover, districts receiving these grants would be required to refrain from staff layoffs in most cases. While Cherry Hill’s approved budget has managed to avoid layoffs thus far, some vacancies resulting from retirements and other departures will remain unfilled.
Another bill seeks to extend the deadline for Cherry Hill to submit its spending plans after the state finalizes its budget for the 2025 fiscal year. This extension would grant the district additional time to adjust its budgetary allocations.
However, both bills are currently under review by State Senate committees, leaving their fate uncertain in terms of when or if they will progress to full Senate votes.
Since learning about the impending aid cuts in late February, the Cherry Hill community has been actively advocating for increased funding from Trenton. Students have testified before state lawmakers, and various initiatives, including urging constituents to contact legislators through social media campaigns and phone calls, have been launched.
While Cherry Hill’s school board has already greenlit next year’s budget, the quest for additional state funding continues. With ongoing efforts to engage lawmakers and rally community support, the hope remains for a fairer funding arrangement for Cherry Hill Public Schools.
