School Tax Remains Level, School Board Head Says

SEA ISLE CITY – “I’m here to allay your fears: no increase in school tax and this is the sixth year in a row we’ve been able to say no increase in the school tax rate,” said Dan Tumalo, president, Sea Isle City Board of Education in his presentation to City Council May 19.
The municipality’s governing body met on a Saturday so that residents, second homeowners, and other interested participants who work or live elsewhere, could attend.
Meeting upon the heels of another school shooting, that one in Santa Fe, Texas, Tumalo said, “This is the worst that can happen to any school and our board mission statement calls for ensuring that resources are available for the health and welfare of our students.
“To that end, and while I can’t give full details, we have security officers and other police resources in every school Sea Isle City children attend, as well as at sporting events.
“We also are addressing the much-publicized nationwide addiction problem and educating our teachers how to react for any real or perceived problem with drinking, drugs, or other addiction issue.”
Tumalo noted that in Cape May County, out of 126 overdoses, only one was school age. The majority was among the age group 18-24 years old.
Regarding city demographics, Tumalo referred to U.S. Census statistics that show that the number of school-aged students in the municipality had declined dramatically, from 444 students in 2000, to 250 in 2010, to 117 in 2016.
This decline reflects the upward trend of the city’s median age from 51 in 2000, to 58 in 2010, to 63 in 2016, and the downward population of 2,835 residents in 2000, to 2,114 in 2010, to 1,905 in 2016.
As a result, local students have been dispersed for several years to schools outside the municipality, with the majority attending Ocean City schools, followed by Bishop McHugh, a Catholic school for children whose parents choose to send them there.
Tumalo listed some initiatives that are helping local youngsters, including the Cape Assist – Pride Drug Prevention program and related counseling, SAT college testing reimbursement, and youth initiatives partnering with the local Chamber of Commerce.
“We also are emphasizing ‘resiliency,’ which we define as finding a way to get students who are not college-bound to make their way and get on a career path,” he said.
Summing up, Tumalo said, “We are committed to providing the best for our students while keeping school taxes as low as possible. For the average SIC property assessed at $642,469, school tax in School Year 2017-2018 was $261.58 vs. $260.84 for School Year 2018-2019.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.