In the months following Robert Loretan’s appointment as the West Windsor-Plainsboro school district’s permanent superintendent, he received rave reviews from staff, administrators, and board members for his leadership skills. But the real test, according to some board members at the ti’me, would be whether he could help get the next school budget passed. ##M:[more]##
Despite tough economic times and a concern over a whopping school tax increase in Plainsboro, Loretan passed his test on election day, April 20. Voters from both West Windsor and Plainsboro overwhelming passed the 2004-’05 school budget of nearly $130 million, representing a 4.4 percent increase from the current budget. Voters also swept in two new school board members (one in Plainsboro and one in West Windsor) as well as reelected a returning member in West Windsor. (See story above).
“(The budget vote) definitely shows the support that the community has for the schools and for Dr. Loretan,” says public relations officer Gerri Hutner. “It is certainly a sign of his understanding of the needs of the community and that the community recognizes the tremendous support and work that went into creating the budget. We didn’t cut any programs and added eight new teachers. It represents a nice pat on the back.”
For board member Steve Smith, the budget’s success represents was a team effort. “I think we had a successful effort at all levels,” he says. “Dr. Loretan help craft the budget and helped in the communication process. But the board and administration had a clear vision. Passing a budget is always a trade off of needs and tax burdens. I’m very pleased at the results.”
The final 2004-’05 budget vote in West Windsor was 1,”553 votes in favor of passing the budget, 559 against. In Plainsboro, 466 residents voted in favor of the budget, with 393 voting against. The combined total for the two townships was 2,”019 voting yes, 952 voting no. This represents approximately nine percent of residents.
Plainsboro residents were faced with a 14.28 percent school tax increase, totaling almost 29 cents per $100 of assessed property value. A home valued at the township average of $190,”700 will see an increase of approximately $548.97. The tax rate will be about $2.303 per $100 of assessed value with an average homeowner paying $4,”392 in school taxes.
West Windsor residents are seeing a decrease in school taxes of 1.7 cent per $100 of assessed value. A home valued at the average price of $239,”600 would see a decrease of some $39.63. The tax rate will be 2.553 cents per $100 of assessed value with homeowners paying about $6,”117.66.
The school tax rate for each township is set by the state and based on a formula measuring the total property value within the township. Plainsboro’s total market value increased much more than West Windsor ’s, so its share of the total tax burden increased more. Plainsboro officials have long believed that West Windsor’s practice of not updating property values has kept its valuation artificially low. But last month the Mercer County Board of Taxation ordered the revaluation of real estate properties in West Windsor. The process is expected to take approximately two years.
Plainsboro officials have also complained that the tax rate does not take into account the number of students each township actually sends to district schools. This year 3,”848 students from Plainsboro attend WW-P schools compared with 5,”308 students from West Windsor.
But while 2004 represented the seventh out of the past eight budgets approved by West Windsor-Plainsboro tax payers, things were not so rosy for school districts across the county and state. In Mercer County, three of eight school budgets defeated. Washington Township (for the second consecutive year), Lawrence, and Ewing all voted school budgets down on April 20. Princeton Regional and Hopewell Valley Regional each had their budgets approved.
Statewide, voters in 550 school districts were asked to vote on local budgets along with filling 1,”719 school board positions. Last year only 62 percent of budgets across the state were approved — the lowest figure since 1994. In Mercer County only Washington Township rejected a school budget in 2003.
In Burlington County, half of the budgets failed last year. This year, faced with hefty tax increases, voters rejected budgets in Northern Burlington Regional and Bordentown Regional.
