The Evesham Township School District met via Zoom session on Thursday May 7th, 2020, to vote on the 2020-2021 school year budget.
The 2020-2021 budget represents an increase of almost $1.9 million over the previous year. Compared to last year's budget, the two big changes on the revenue side (where the funds come from) are a massive reduction in state aid ($1.4 million) and a transfer from capital reserves of $671,500. Those two two items cause more money to be needed from the local tax levy.
On the spending side, there is a substantial increase in salaries. Last year, a new three year teachers contract was ratified. Year two called for a 3.15% increase in teacher salaries, so this item was expected. There are $671,500 worth of capital projects, which include a new fire alarm system at Marlton Middle School, a roof repair at Jaggard, and repairs to the Admin Building.
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The 2020-2021 budget represents an increase of almost $1.9 million over the previous year. Compared to last year's budget, the two big changes on the revenue side (where the funds come from) are a massive reduction in state aid ($1.4 million) and a transfer from capital reserves of $671,500. Those two two items cause more money to be needed from the local tax levy.
The general fund tax levy cap, plus the allowable adjustment for enrollment,
adjustment for health care costs and banked cap, is 3.54% as set by the State.
The 2020-21 budget is raising the general fund tax levy to the allowable cap.
This will raise the tax rate .0047 cents, costing the average homeowner $12.74 per year. (The average assessed value of a home in Evesham is valued at $271,600.)
I have been writing about school budgets several times per year for the past 4 or 5 years. After budgets are passed, parents are glad that programs aren't cut and happy that class sizes will be maintained at a low level. But invariably, when there is a tax increase, the response will be that Evesham needs to cut Admin, that we have too many Administrative positions, that we don't need as many principals and vice principals as we have, etc.
An interesting item was brought up during the budget presentation. The NJ Department of Education tracks spending on every district in the state. Districts are divided by type (K-5, K-8, K-12, 9-12, etc) and by size (small <400, medium 401-750, and large > 750 students). The figures are all compiled in a 'Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending', which has a wealth of spending information on every district in the state.
(3/7/2021 - CORRECTION - the data below was BUDGETED spending per pupil, not actual. The actual spending ended up being $1271 per pupil and ranked 3rd.)
There are 74 large K-8 districts in NJ. For the 2018-2019 school year (the last year currently available in the guide), Evesham has the lowest Administrative cost per pupil out of those 74 districts. (Other local districts such as Cherry Hill and Moorestown are K-12 and are not in this grouping)
The budget passed by a 9-0 vote. If you want to watch the meeting, it is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M5aEXjHgzs
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