School Board Adopts Budget With Average $235 Tax Hike

District spending plan is focused on new initiatives including full day kindergarten and random drug testing

The average Lacey homeowner, assessed at $316,000, will see a $235 increase for the year or $19.58 per month after the Board of Education approved its 2013-14 budget. The spending plan of $64,524,195 calls for a $41,210,651 tax levy and was approved by a vote of 6-1 at the school board’s public hearing Friday. The budget increases the local tax levy by 2.8 percent. “If I were to vote no on this two years ago and it was going to the public for a vote, I can’t in my heart, personally, knowing that this would probably not get voted for by the public, I can’t support and vote yes on it today,” said board President Eric Schubiger, the lone vote opposed to the budget. Schubiger also voted against the preliminary budget, which actually proposed a…

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Letters to the Editor

Letter: 'No Such Thing as a Spending Cap' to Lacey BOE

Former Lacey school board supporter expresses disappointment in district and its potential 2.8 percent increase in the local tax levy

Dear Editor, The township of Lacey is really in shambles, and ironically enough, it is not caused by the town council. The recent news surrounding a potential 2.8 percent tax increase issued by the Board of Education should come as no real surprise to the residents. Lets be realistic, when was the last time the Board of Education has made a decision that the town as a whole is happy with? Most of these board members supported and pitched the solar panel project. This was supposed to pay for itself and save hundreds of thousands of dollars, but where has that gotten us? We saved a few bucks each of the last five years or so thanks to their poor planning and now they're asking for year's worth of no tax increases back in one year. For years…

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SLIDES: The Breakdown of the 2013-14 School Budget

The district's powerpoint shows budget highlights, operating expenditures, revenues and the history of Lacey's tax levy

With the school district exceeding the state mandated cap in a tax levy increase, some are wondering what is in the 2013-14 budget. The above photos were included in Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower's powerpoint presentation, breaking down the budget, which proposes a $235 tax increase for the average Lacey homeowner. The actual budget will be uploaded once it is made available by the school district.

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GB Shore

12:22 pm on Monday, April 8, 2013

@Paul, my facts are FACTS....they just do not support what you state or what you want them to show. You made a false statement and I provided facts, so what do you do? You try to go in another direction. The information on Data Universe is provided by the towns and districts. These numbers are not made up, as you would like to try and dispel. It is disgusting that you try to claim otherwise. It …   more ›

District to Present Budget with 'Historic Tax Increase'

Township Committee 'pressures' school board to reduce tax levy, which would increase taxes approximately $300 for the average homeowner

A presentation on the school district’s 2013-14 budget, which increases taxes approximately $300 for the average homeowner, will be made at the school board meeting Monday at 7:30 p.m. Earlier in March, the board approved its preliminary school district budget with a 4.9 percent increase in the local tax levy. The proposed $65,378,595 spending plan calls for a $42,065,051 tax levy. The average homeowner, assessed at $316,000, will pay $25 more in taxes per month if the 2013-14 budget is approved as is. “We’ve been pressuring the school board to take and reduce that number,” Committeeman Gary Quinn said at Thursday’s Committee meeting. Members of the Committee have met with and discussed the budget over the phone in what Mayor David Most …

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Municipal Tax Hike Expected in 2013

First budget workshop set for Thursday, March 21 at 7p.m.

Lacey residents can expect to see a municipal tax increase within the confines of the state-mandated cap, Mayor David Most said after the township’s first budget meeting of the year Thursday. Budget numbers were not available at the meeting as the township is just in the beginning stages of preparing its 2013-14 budget. Chief Financial Officer Adrian Fanning provided the Committee members with budget booklets. He has received 95 percent of the department’s requests and is waiting on further information from the Department of Public Works. Most could not say what the township’s exact shortfall is but said an increase in cost for medial insurance, the expenses incurred due to Hurricane Sandy and tax appeals will have the greatest impact on …

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William J Moss

10:41 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

Carrie Last year a 1.7% increase cost $99.00 on a $317 thousand assessed value house and land. Keep in mind we still have county and local taxes to come   more ›

BOE Proposes 4.9 Percent Increase in Tax Levy

Waivers used to exceed state-mandated 2 percent cap

The Lacey Board of Education approved its 2013-14 preliminary school district budget, which includes a 4.9 percent increase in the local tax levy. “As this budget is today, I’m not in support of it,” President Eric Schubiger said at Monday’s special meeting. “I know we have a lot of work to do and I know that we are all going to look at this closely in the next several weeks.” The preliminary budget was approved by a vote of 5-2, with Schubiger and board member Frank Palino opposed.  After boasting a zero percent tax increase for two straight years followed by a 1.7 percent increase in the levy in 2012, the board was unable to introduce its budget within the state-mandated 2 percent cap. The proposed $65,378,595 spending plan calls for a $…

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Bob Smith

1:09 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013

I did just that two years ago. Meeting after meeting both with the school board and township committee. The problem is the voters in this town are apathetic and I blame them now for the mess we are in. if your dont change the situation things are never going to get better.   more ›

Committee Adopts Budget With Tax Increase

The average homeowner, with property assessed at $317,924 will pay $5.27 more a month or $63.24 per year

The township Committee passed the municipal budget that will raise taxes by $63.24 for the year for the average Lacey homeowner unanimously. “I very reluctantly vote yes for the budget,” Committeewoman Helen DelaCruz said. “It is very hard for us, I know, to raise taxes because I know how many people out there are hurting. But you see, we have to keep our services going.” The governing body is raising $9,767,233.13 via taxation. The average homeowner, with property assessed at $317,924, will pay $5.27 more a month or $63.24 per year. “I have some frustrations about where we are right now,” Committeeman Sean Sharkey said. “I’m not happy with any tax increase and I don’t think anyone should be. I’m not proud of any tax increase but was are …

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Live Chat: Public Hearing on Municipal Budget Slated for 7 p.m.

Join us for live coverage as the township committee will vote on the 2012-13 municipal budget that proposes raising taxes an average of $63 annually

A public hearing on the municipal budget, which proposes an average $63 tax increase annually for the average homeowner, will be held at the township meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday. Join Lacey Patch for live coverage. The governing body unanimously voted in April to introduce the spending plan that will raise $9,767,233.13 via taxation. The average homeowner, with property assessed at $317,924, will pay $5.27 more a month or $63.24 per year, Chief Financial Officer Adrian Fanning said previously in a letter to the committee. Township Administrator/Clerk Veronica Laureigh outlined these basic figures for the 2012 fiscal year budget: General Appropriations $25,170,621.05 Reserve for Uncollected Taxes $1,354,550.73 Total General Appropriations $…

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2012 Budget With Average $63 Tax Hike Introduced

Public hearing on spending plan set for May 24

Lacey property owners will pay an average $63 more annually if the Township Committee approves the 2012 municipal budget. The governing body unanimously voted Thursday to introduce the spending plan that will raise $9,767,233.13 via taxation. The average homeowner, with property assessed at $317,924, will pay $5.27 more a month or $63.24 per year, Chief Financial Officer Adrian Fanning said previously in a letter to the committee. Township Administrator/Clerk Veronica Laureigh outlined these basic figures for the 2012 fiscal year budget: General Appropriations $25,170,621.05 Reserve for Uncollected Taxes $1,354,550.73 Total General Appropriations $26,545,171.85 Less Anticipated Revenues $16,757,938.72 Amount to be Raised by Taxes $9,767,…

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