Mullica School Budget Cuts Staff, Programs, Raises Tax

  MULLICA TOWNSHIP - The township School District's budget calls for tax increases, staffing reductions and program cutbacks. But Business Administrator Lourdes LaGuardia said it could be much worse....Continue Reading

The district introduced the $9.1 million budget Wednesday night that calls for a 3.5 cent hike in the tax rate and a $127,596 increase to the tax levy. The total budget will also increase by $248,596.

LaGuardia said the district, which relies heavily on state aid, was hurt when its state aid of $5,561,045 stayed flat this year, while its operating expenses increased.

"We had to make cuts to the budget to get it below the cap," she said. "We didn't want to eliminate any programs, so we chose to scale some back."

On the chopping block were:

 Four staff positions (two teachers and two aides by layoff, and two teaching positions through attrition.)

Facility upgrades

Staff development and tuition reimbursement

Funding to after-school activities and field trips

Computer upgrades and supplies

The budget also calls for the elimination of the district's special education contingency funds that are set aside in case a student with special education needs enters the school district and must be bused to another school.

"If a (special education student) walks through our door in September, we will not have the money to accommodate them," LaGuardia said. "It's something we'll have to address as the time comes."

LaGuardia said she fielded suggestions to completely eliminate funding for extra-curricular activities to stabilize the tax rate, which she avoided doing.

"As an elementary and middle school, we are in the business of preparing children for high school," she said. "Without these programs, they will not have the confidence to succeed at the next level."

If the budget does not get voter approval April 21, LaGuardia said the district could have no choice but to eliminate all after-school programs. And additional staffers and courtesy busing would also be in jeopardy, she said.

"Everything else has already been skimmed out," she said. "There's nothing left to cut."

 E-mail Robert Spahr: RSpahr@pressofac.com

Mullica School Budget