Evesham board agrees to seek extra local tax levy to close $15 million adequacy gap; vote stops short of deciding amount

The Evesham Township School District Board of Education voted April 14 to submit an application to the state for additional local tax levy authority after Superintendent Dr. Smith told the board the district is approximately $15,000,000 below the state’s adequacy calculation.

Dr. Smith opened the public presentation by saying the state’s recently updated adequacy numbers created a unique opportunity for districts that fall below adequacy to raise local levy “up to that full amount” and that Evesham could seek roughly $14.9 million (the district’s recommended figure), to bring the district to adequacy. “This is our fourth budget meeting within about the last two months,” Dr. Smith said. “We are 15,000,000 below adequacy.”

Why it matters: The board’s vote to submit the application preserves the district’s ability to ask voters — through the local tax levy application to the state — for extra, recurring local revenue aimed at restoring program cuts, shoring up capital maintenance and starting to address long-term facilities needs. The board’s action does not itself set a final dollar amount; it authorizes staff to prepare budget scenarios for the board’s April 28 final budget vote.

Most important facts

- The board passed agenda item 6.1 — to submit the application acknowledging eligibility for the additional levy authority — by roll call. Several members said “yes — all” and several said “yes — some,” indicating there was not unanimity about asking for the full available amount. The…