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Board hears residents’ concerns as officials describe rising costs, state aid declines
Summary
Residents raised property-tax concerns as board members described seven years of declining state aid, rising fixed costs (transportation, insurance, food service) and program cuts; the board says it limited its tax levy to 4.1% amid $194,000 in inflation-driven fixed-cost increases.
The Frankford Township Board of Education spent substantial time answering residents’ questions about rising property taxes and the district’s budget at its August meeting.
A resident asked whether the board could freeze taxes; the board’s chair responded that the district ‘‘was allowed to tax up to 9.9% and we went to 4.1%’’ to cover rising costs, and that inflation drove a roughly $194,000 increase in fixed bills for the district, including higher oil, transportation and food-service costs. The chair also said the board had made ‘‘heartbreaking’’ program cuts and staff reductions to balance the budget.
Why it matters: board members said a steady decline in state aid has shifted more of the burden to local taxpayers. A board member noted that ‘‘for the last seven years, Sussex and Warren County particularly has gotten their state aid reduced’’ and that insurance and teacher salaries now consume about 80% of the district’s budget, leaving roughly 20% for discretionary spending.
Board response and context: the chair urged residents to raise tax concerns with the town council and other local officials, noting the board’s limited authority over state aid. The board described specific steps it took to save money last year, including consolidating a bus run that reduced service but delivered roughly $70,000 in annual savings per route. "Everyone’s making sacrifices," the chair said.
What’s next: board members said district leaders will continue to monitor state funding levels and will discuss funding strategies in upcoming meetings. Several speakers encouraged pursuing additional state or federal aid where possible.
Sources: statements recorded on the public meeting transcript by the board chair and other members during the public-comment and budget-discussion segments. The meeting included a roll-call vote later in the agenda to approve the consent agenda and minutes.
