Cherry Hill’s proposed school budget for the upcoming year has stirred concerns among community members as it includes tax hikes to prevent staff layoffs and maintain educational standards.
Despite facing significant reductions in state aid, the Cherry Hill School District aims to avoid staff layoffs and maintain current class sizes. However, the proposed budget necessitates an increase in taxes, leaving many residents wary.
Under the preliminary budget approved at the recent Board of Education meeting, the average homeowner would see a tax increase of $194.71 on a home assessed at $226,922. This adds to the tax obligation stemming from the 2022 bond referendum, which raised taxes by $386 on average.
While the budget’s general fund is set to decrease by 1.8 percent, falling from $256.1 million to $251.6 million, local taxation would rise by 3.6 percent, reaching $196.2 million. This increase is attributed to cuts in state aid and other external funding sources.
The Cherry Hill School District is projected to receive $29.5 million in state equalization aid for the next fiscal year, marking a 19 percent decrease from the previous allocation and the lowest total since 2021-22.
Assistant Superintendent Lynn E. Shugars presented the proposed budget, emphasizing efforts to prevent layoffs and maintain academic support services. Board members commended these efforts, assuring that class sizes would not increase and academic support services would remain intact.
The budget reductions were achieved through retirements, projected job vacancies, and cuts in spending on equipment, supplies, professional development, and athletics.
Despite these measures, concerns were raised by community members regarding the impact of tax hikes. Former board member Laurie Neary expressed apprehension about burdening taxpayers, emphasizing the need for state lawmakers to address funding shortfalls.
Board President Miriam Stern acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, referring to it as a “Sophie’s choice.” However, she highlighted community advocacy as a crucial tool in securing better state funding. The district community has mobilized to advocate for the restoration of state aid, with dozens planning to testify before the State Assembly’s Budget Committee.
The school board will conduct a public hearing on the revised budget on April 30, with hopes that continued advocacy efforts will lead to a more favorable outcome for Cherry Hill.
