Exeter board narrows budget plan to 3.25% tax increase; librarian elimination and other cuts debated

The Exeter Township School Board’s Committee of the Whole narrowed the proposed 2025‑26 general fund plan on May 6 to a scenario that would produce a 3.25% tax increase and include the elimination of one position through attrition and repurposing the high‑school librarian, administration said.

Why it matters: the choices affect classroom offerings, extracurricular programs and annual tax bills for local homeowners. The meeting included intense oral public comment from parents, students and staff focused on proposed cuts to elementary instrumental music and the high‑school library position.

Administration presented three budget scenarios that differed by personnel eliminations and whether the board would remove the per‑capita tax and offset the change with a property‑tax tweak. Key elements discussed included eliminating a “bubble” third‑grade class via attrition (administration said that elimination does not require a furlough), repurposing the high‑school librarian into an English position (the employee would be transferred, administration said), and a possible elimination of a K–6 instrumental position that supports third‑ and fourth‑grade lessons.

Administration said the district had eliminated 11 positions by attrition in prior budget cycles and restructured debt in 2023 to save about $2 million annually. The district presented numbers showing a FY2023 surplus of roughly $639,000 and total reserves near $16 million; cost pressures include special education and plant/operations spending. Administration warned that delaying uniform and turf purchases only postpones an expense rather than eliminating it.

On the per‑capita tax (a small flat annual levy collected on adults), board members debated whether to eliminate the charge and cover the revenue via a 0.25 percentage‑point property‑tax increase. Estimates discussed at the meeting varied: the district reported approximately $126,000 gross per‑capita collections in the prior year; the board’s budget scenarios show the recommended 3.25% tax path if the per‑capita charge is retained and the high‑school librarian position is repurposed.

Board straw polls produced these operational signals at the Committee of the Whole:

- The board signaled support for eliminating the high‑school librarian position and transferring the librarian to another teaching role (straw poll result 6–1 in favor of elimination), with administration saying that student library access would be maintained through adjusted schedules and digital resources.

- The board ultimately coalesced around the administration’s Scenario 3 (3.25% tax increase) after additional discussion and a second straw poll that produced a 4–3 margin in favor of the scenario; the item was moved to the May voting agenda as the proposed final budget.

- The board voted to keep funding for band and sports uniforms in the upcoming budget year (members opposed deferring that $50,000 expense).

Public comment: more than a dozen students and parents spoke during public comment, stressing the educational and social benefits of early instrumental instruction and the high‑school library. Students described music as a “safe haven” and parents and staff recounted decades‑long community traditions; music teachers and the high‑school librarian made direct appeals to retain their positions or maintain the program’s continuity.

Next steps: administration will draft a preliminary final budget reflecting the board’s direction (3.25% increase; one attrition elimination; repurposing the librarian), place that proposed budget on the May voting agenda and continue to look at nonpersonnel revenue options (activity fees, turf fees) and further cost‑saving opportunities. The board will vote on the final budget at the scheduled voting meeting in mid‑May.

Ending: the committee’s guidance provides a path for the administration to present a proposed final budget that preserves some extracurricular funding while trimming select positions; the board and community will revisit remaining details at the upcoming voting meeting.