Eastern School District approves budget for 2017–2018 school year

For a Voorhees homeowner with an average assessed home value at $257,866, the annual Eastern Regional High School District tax bill will decrease about $14.22 from the previous year.

At its April 27 meeting, the Eastern Camden County Regional School District passed its 2017–2018 budget.

For a Voorhees homeowner with an average assessed home value at $257,866, the annual Eastern Regional High School District tax bill will decrease about $14.22 from the previous year.

The local tax levy increased 2 percent from the prior year. The budget totals at $38,151,704, $25,051,830 of which will be raised by local taxes, compared to last year’s $24,560,618.

Residents of Voorhees will contribute $20,552,321 to the fund.

From the total budget, $36,779,454 will go toward the general fund, which includes costs for daily operations and capital projects, and $441,750 will go toward the special revenue fund, which accounts for grants from state and federal agencies.

Debt service funds, which are used to pay off existing bonds, totals the remaining $930,500. Board secretary Diana Schiraldi said August 2018 will mark the district’s final debt service payment.

“I don’t know any other school district who has no debt,” Schiraldi said.

The amount of the budget that was provided by state aid held level from last year at 26 percent, totaling.

Schiraldi said not getting funds from state aid puts pressure on the local tax levy. Over the past five years, state aid has increased only a little more than 1 percent. The district was given $9.9 million in state aid in the 2009–2010 school year.

Capital projects will account for $195,000 of the budget, which includes replacement of the phone system district-wide. Schiraldi said the eight-year-old phones are outdated and not supported by current software.

The culinary arts classroom will also be renovated over the summer, though Schiraldi said the costs for that were covered in last year’s budget. This is the first time the classroom will be upgraded since 1965.

The roof over the 1965 section of the building will also be replaced over the summer. Three years ago, the roofing over the far right side of the building was replaced, and this year will replace the roofing on the far left section.

Artificial turf on the soccer and baseball fields will also be replaced.

Schiraldi said all of these projects are being funded by the district’s capital reserve funds.

Ongoing initiatives included in the budget are Camden County College Option 2, the iPad initiative and an expansion of AP courses offered.

The district will be purchasing or replacing textbooks for six subjects, including books for a new public speaking course.

No programs that include academics, athletics and clubs currently at the school will be shut down for next year, and the school will maintain staffing levels. There are no new fees added to the budget.

The school will be adding a behavioral specialist to its staff, who will assist teachers in handling students with behavioral issues.

The school is also looking to hire another teacher in an elective area.