WOODBINE –– It’s not a good year to be a taxpayer in this borough.

The school district here proposed a $4.8 million budget that would increase the tax levy to $1.28 million equaling a 9.5-cent tax rate increase from 62 cents last year to 71.5 cents this year. In other words, a taxpayer whose home is valued at $100,000 would pay $715 in school taxes this year compared to $620 last year.

Woodbine taxpayers also face a 19.6-cent municipal tax rate increase in which the aforementioned homeowner’s local purpose tax bill would nearly double from $231 last year to $427 this year for a total (school and municipal tax) increase of $291.

Taxpayers here could also be hit with an extra charge for State Police protection (See related story on page A1).
On March 19, the school district held a public hearing on the budget.

School officials blamed the tax hike on increased costs from the sending agreement with Millville School District as well as increased energy costs associated with the district’s new school library and gymnasium.

“Within the 9.5 cent increase, approximately 7.5 cents is directly attributed to the rising sending district tuition and increased energy costs,” school Business Administrator Alan Parmelee said. “The remaining 2 cents accounts for all other increases in the budget to taxpayers.”

Despite the large increase, Superintendent Lynda Anderson-Towns remained upbeat.

“The Woodbine School District has undergone significant changes in alignment and revision of curriculum during the past year,” she said. “When combined with the addition of our new school library and gymnasium, the overall climate and academic programs are quickly progressing in a positive direction.”

The district will be providing a part-time art and music teacher and is pursuing a three-year-old preschool program for the fall, she said.

“As of now, our district has a full-time four-year-old preschool program that gives our youngest students a firm foundation in school,” she added. “If supported by the state with funding, we have the staff and classroom space to begin their educational experiences even earlier.”

Residents will vote on the school budget on April 15 in the annual school elections.

Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com