No Increase in Cape May Elementary Tax Rate

CAPE MAY — Cape May Elementary School’s proposed 2009-2010 budget has no increase in the local purpose tax rate.
While the $3.3 million budget shows a $56,000 increase over last year, the local purpose tax remains at 6.7. cents per $100 of assessed property value.
The budget increase is the result of salary increases, according to Business Administrator John Thomas. Teacher contracts will be under negotiation this year, he said.
The amount to be raised by taxes is $1.4 million which represents no increase over the past two years.
Thomas told the Herald the school is below the state calculated adequacy budget and as a result, the school’s tax levy is the lowest allowable by law and the Board of Education could not reduce it any further.
Cost per pupil is $15,922.
No layoffs are anticipated. One teacher will retire.
The school will add an additional first grade class “tentatively added based on anticipated enrollment,” according to Thomas.
A computer technology program is being restored from half time to full time.
Cape May Elementary School will receive $500,000 in state aid, the same amount as last year.
The school is anticipating $112,000 in federal aid and $590,000 in federal impact aid due the number of Coast Guard and public housing students.
The budget proposes charging tuition to students from other districts of $5,166 for preschool, $10,332 for kindergarten and $10,962 for grades one through six.
Enrollment for the school year is projected to be 186 students.
The budget was introduced March 16. The annual school district election will be held April 21 with first and second districts voting at the Cape May Fire House, third and fourth districts voting at Cape May United Methodist Church, fifth district at the Kiwanis Club and the sixth district polling place at the Corinthian Yacht Club.
Poll hours are 4 p.m. to 9 pm.