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Residents criticize repeated school tax hikes; committee says it has limited authority
Summary
Multiple residents criticized recent school tax increases and urged the township committee to intervene. Committee members said they have advocated for taxpayers at school-board meetings but reiterated that the township lacks direct control over school spending decisions.
Several residents used the public-comment portion of the Lacey Township Committee meeting to criticize the recent school-district tax increases and to urge township officials to take action.
Regina DeSenza, of Sunset Drive, said she was "very disappointed" the mayor did not attend a recent school-board meeting to oppose a 10% tax increase. "I thought for sure that you would come in person to tell the school board and district administration how a 10% tax increase 2 years in a row was unconscionable," she told committee members, and she encouraged residents to run for school-board seats.
Linda Miller, a resident of Cedar River, told the committee that taxpayers were paying the price for the school board's fiscal choices. "All for the teachers, not for what they profess, the children," she said, describing a "20% increase in 1 year" and calling the result a burden on local homeowners.
Committee members responded that the township committee has limited authority over school budgets. The mayor and other members said they and some committee members do attend school-board meetings and have offered suggestions, but they reiterated that the board of education controls school spending and that the township cannot unilaterally prevent a board-approved budget from taking effect.
The mayor told residents: "Nobody up here is doing nothing. We're working. Nobody up here is sitting still." Committee members said they have met with school officials and attend some school-board sessions, and they pointed to state-level funding changes and rising insurance costs as pressures complicating the district's finances.
Several residents warned of political consequences at the ballot box if they felt the township or school board had not provided adequate fiscal oversight. Other commenters raised related concerns about seniors and tax relief programs; one resident summarized forthcoming stateary changes to the senior/Anchor programs and urged eligible homeowners to apply.
The committee did not take any formal action on school-district budgeting during the meeting; members said they will continue to engage with the school board and encouraged residents to attend school-board meetings and to contact individual school-board members.
