Preliminary Berkeley Board of Ed Budget Calls for Slight Tax Hike

The Berkeley Township School District's 2011-12 preliminary budget, which was introduced Thursday, calls for a 2 percent increase in the taxes necessary to support the spending plan.

As it currently stands, taxpayers can expect to see an increase of 1.4 cents for each $100 of assessed property value, said Laura J. Venter, business administrator/board secretary.

Board members stressed that the budget is only in its preliminary stages, and the numbers could change in the weeks ahead as board members go over the figures.

“It goes to the executive county superintendent’s office tomorrow," Venter said. "In the meantime, the board will look at everything. If they do not make any changes this will be the budget."

The budget introduced totals $32,665,181. The tax levy - the amount to be raised by taxation —is $27,214,88,, which represents a 2 percent increase from last year’s figure of $26,681,262, Venter said.

Even if the tax levy did not increase, the tax rate would most likely still go up, because township ratables went down by more than $30 million, she said.

The K-6 district has four schools — the , the, the and the .