Salisbury Township Could Face School Tax Increase

As the business administator prepares the 2012-13 preliminary budget, she warned school board members Wednesday that cuts and a tax increase will likely be necessary.

Business Administrator Christine Stafford said the first draft shows a $30.7 million preliminary budget that raises millage .07 percent from the to 50.1580.

Stafford said while residents could face a school tax increase as high as 5.35 percent, or about $177 per homeowner, the average tax increase has been about 3 percent, or about $100 per homeowner.

“It is much too early in the budget process to determine the amount of funding that will be needed to balance the budget,” Stafford said in an e-mail to Patch.

“While the district must submit its preliminary budget in January, the amount it will receive from state and federal sources will not be known until sometime in February or later.”

Stafford said there are many unknown factors, such as the amount of local and state revenue, retirements, tax assessment appeals, diesel fuel prices, a contract with KidsPeace and charter school enrollments.

Stafford said this draft budget will require cuts. Even if the state approves all of the exceptions the district will apply for, the district will have to cut $343,297. However, if the board doesn't raise taxes or use any exceptions, they would have to cut $1,420,821, she said.

To reduce the budget, Stafford asked the board to consider looking at the possibility of not replacing retiring staff, hiring less tenured replacements and using money from the fund balance that has been designated for the increasing retirement costs.

The 2012-2013 preliminary budget for Salisbury Township School District will be prepared for public inspection by Dec. 23.