Community Corner

Preliminary School Tax Levy: $127 Million

Average homeowner's taxes would increase $209.

Residents' tax bills would increase an average of $209 if voters approve the district's $127 million tax levy, as it is currently constituted, in April.

The district's total preliminary budget is approximately $141.3 million. The board approved the budget Thursday evening at its public meeting.

In an effort to limit property tax increases, Governor Chris Christie and state lawmakers agreed earlier this year to limit property tax increases to no more than 2 percent unless voters approve a higher amount. The 2 percent budget cap increase only applies to the tax levy, the portion of the budget funded by local taxes, not to other portions of the budget, such as debt service.

Find out what's happening in Waynewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It's a temporary structure. The board is committed to bringing [the budget] under the 2 percent cap," said board President Robert Ceberio. "We will get it under 2 percent, to what extent we don't know, but we will get it under 2 percent."

Ceberio said the district received word from the state very late in the process last year that its aid had been cut and had to make several last-minute cuts to the budget.

Find out what's happening in Waynewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There will be a special public hearing the budget March 10 at 7 p.m. in the council chamber in the municipal complex. The board will vote on the final budget March 24.

The district is expected to receive more than $1.5 million in state aid this year.

Residents approved last year's $123 million tax levy by a vote of 5,304 to 4,592.


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