Mullica BoE OK's 10 M Budget

MULLICA TOWNSHIP —

The Board of Education approved a $10.1 million general fund budget Tuesday night, which raises about $3.5 million in a tax levy and leaves the school tax rate virtually unchanged.

The school tax rate will remain flat at about $1,248 per $100 of a home's assessed value, for a school tax bill of $1,448 on the average home valued at $116,000.

The 2014 spending plan eliminates separate principals for the elementary and middle schools, replacing them with one principal and one vice principal for both schools.

Former board member Walt Lyons questioned what the savings will be from that move. Superintendent Brenda Harring-Marro said it will save $15,000 by replacing a principal making $100,000 with a vice principal making $85,000.

>Mullica Township Education Association President Barbara Rheault pointed out that about 100 union members are contributing about $100,000 toward their health benefits this year, which helped balance the budget.

The district expects an enrollment of 681 students, up from 632 last year, and to receive about $400,000 in tuition funds. Spending per pupil is predicted to fall to $13,603 from $13,620, according to the budget plan.

The pre-kindergarten to eighth-grade district received $5.35 million in state aid last year, and anticipates receiving about $5.37 million this year.

Mullica Township School District Business Administrator Karen Gfroehrer said the general fund budget is increasing in part due to an asbestos abatement project and increases in the cost of employee benefits, but since debt service spending is going down by a similar amount, the tax rate remains the same.

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