Despite a 4.4 percent increase from last year’s budget and a big school tax increase in Plainsboro, the West Windsor-Plainsboro school district’s proposed $130 million budget is generating surprisingly little opposition as the Tuesday, April 20, vote nears. ##M:[more]##
The Village Grande Civic Association — an influential group of West Windsor residents who keep a close eye on taxes and wasteful spending — have supported it. There has been little opposition voiced during the public comment portion of board meetings.
“I think that is because it is a good budget and people realize that the increase in Plainsboro was out of the board’s control,” says board member Stan Katz. “People are also pleased with the new school administration and you don’t have the behind-the-scenes drama that you might have had during other administrations.”
The vote, to be held on Tuesday, April 20, will allow all residents of West Windsor and Plainsboro who are registered to vote to cast their yay or nay for next year’s proposed nearly $130 million school budget and choose among candidates running for a three-year term on the school board. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In West Windsor, voters will be able to select two school board candidates from among the three who are running: Robert Johnson, Hemant Marathe (running for his second term), and Peter Weale. Current board member Diane Hasling, who is now finishing her first term on the board, chose not to run for reelection.
In Plainsboro, with one seat open, voters can choose between William Probasco and Ellen Walsh. Michele Epstein, serving her first term, chose not to run for another three-year term.
Over the past five years, the communities of West Windsor and Plainsboro have supported the school district budget. But this year the resulting school tax increase in Plainsboro has been a source of concern. While West Windsor residents will see their tax burden decrease slightly (0.64 percent), Plainsboro residents are seeing a skyrocketing increase of 14.28 percent.
West Windsor residents would see a decrease of 1.7 cents per $100 of assessed value. For a home valued at the average price of $239,”600, this would represent a decrease of $39.63. The tax rate would be 2.553 cents per $100 and the homeowners would pay approximately $6,”117.66 in school taxes.
Plainsboro residents tax increase represents a 28.8 cent increase per $100 of assessed value. A home valued at the township average of $190,”700 would see an increase of $548.97. The tax rate would be $2.303 per $100 of assessed value with an average homeowner paying $6,”117.66 in school taxes.
The district will hire eight new teachers to accommodate a projected 2.5 percent increase in enrollment.
Last year Plainsboro also received a higher share of the increase, footing a 9.6 cent rise compared to West Windsor’s 5 cents per $100 of assessed value. Voters in the two townships approved the budget by a 1,”821 to 1,”356 margin. ##M:[more]##
The tax burden between the townships is determined by the state based on a formula that takes into account the total market value of the property in each community. But Plainsboro officials, angered by West Windsor’s property assessment practices, have asked for changes in the state’s methods of formulating taxes in a regional school district such as West Windsor Plainsboro.
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