Board passes 2014-15 budget, accepts Koenig’s resignation
Page 4 • Wednesday, May 14, 2014 • The Hammonton Gazette
BOE, from Page 1
tax rate increase, that increase is 3.34 cents
for the operating budget and two cents for
debt service,” Prettyman said.
according to Prettyman, the budget includes increased expenses for various items.
“Our budget this year includes increases
for salaries, health benefit costs and the tax
levy will cover a larger portion of the debt
service for the elementary school,” Prettyman said.
Prettyman also noted that the only change
to the advertised budget was a re-allotment
of funds for the preschool program, but
there was no change in total value.
“there’s one slight change to the advertised budget and it pertains to the preschool
education program…the total remains the
same…we simply moved around amounts
between teachers’ salaries, aides’ salaries
and benefits,” Prettyman said.
Board member Sam Mento voted against
the budget stating that when the board voted
to move the election to November, one of
the conditions was that the board could raise
taxes two percent without taxpayer approval, however loopholes created the opportunity for a greater increase and he feels
that “two percent” should mean “two percent.”
“When this board voted unanimously
over a year ago to move the election to November it was to be at the savings to the taxpayers by eliminating a stand-alone election
in april. a part of that deal enables
school boards then to raise the tax
rate by two percent without voter
approval… the problem is two percent isn’t really two percent. the
trenton politicians have left loopholes and mec [