KidsPeace Bankruptcy Affects Salisbury Tax Hike

Real estate taxes in Salisbury Township will rise 2.5% as a result of the Salisbury School Board's passage of the 2013-14 budget last week, school officials said. 

The $31.7 million budget required a millage of 16.9203 from its original 16.5076, which bumped the tax increase to 2.5% from an anticipated 2.2%.

School district business administrator Robert Bruchak said the additional millage increase came from the board's concern over the recent bankruptcy filing of KidsPeace.

"The board is very concerned about financial expenditures and effect of KidsPeace filing bankruptcy may have," Bruchak said. "We still do work with them and are reimbursed by KidsPeace and the state. With the bankruptcy, there is a concern about that."

Bruchak said that there are currently more unknowns than answers concerning the KidsPeace bankruptcy situation. A KidsPeace Family Center with resident children is located on Broadway in Salisbury Township.

Bruchak said a homeowner with an assessed home value of $204,581 will pay an additional $84.43 per year in real estate taxes.

Superintendent Michael Roth said he was happy that the district was able to meet it mandates without having to cut programs.

The school board successfully closed a $740,000 budget gap through savings and use of the district's fund balance. 

Last year, directors implemented a 4 percent tax increase in the 2012-13 budget.