The WW-P School District has released the preliminary results for the 2011-’12 fiscal year. District revenues were $3.7 million favorable to the budget. Plus there was $12.3 million of spending favorability resulting in a total favorability of $16 million.
The total local tax levy was $147 million for that year, so the district collected almost 11 percent more from the local taxpayers than was actually needed. For the average Plainsboro resident who paid $6,317 it means that $687 was over collected. In West Windsor the average taxpayer overpaid $820 in their $7,536 tax bill.
I recognize that it is prudent to build some flexibility into the budget. However, when you look at the district trend over the past six years, the favorability has been $3.3 million, $7.6 million, $9.0 million, $7.6 million, $10.4 million and now $16.0 million (2006-’07 through 2011-’12). When will the district stop the excessive budgets?
Quentin Walsh
Walsh is the husband of school board member Ellen Walsh, but the comments above represent only his view.
