Cherry Hill officials propose 7.4% tax levy hike as health‑care and transportation costs swell

Mister Schimpf, the district finance officer, told the Cherry Hill Board of Education on a special budget night that the district faces a structural deficit that could range from roughly $14 million to $25 million depending on tax levy choices and other variables. He said the administration is proposing a tentative 7.4% increase in the school tax levy to generate about $14.8 million in additional revenue while also identifying roughly $14.5 million in required spending cuts.

The proposal is driven largely by sharply higher employee health‑benefit costs and transportation expenses, Schimpf said. He told the board that initial carrier estimates showed a medical premium increase of about 27% and prescription costs of about 33%; after negotiation, the medical renewal was reduced to about 19.9% (roughly $7 million) and prescriptions to 27% (about $3 million), leaving roughly a $10 million increase to benefits. Renewed transportation contracts and added routes add about $1.3 million, he said.

"We were able,…