WT School Taxes

The undersigned call on the Washington Township K-8 Board of Education to immediately set forth a new fiscal plan to lower taxes and better utilize resources for classroom instruction.

In 2004, Washington Township educated 3023 students for $32,513,848 ($10,755.29 per child). This year, Washington Township is educating only 2,772 students, yet spending $42,979,138 to do so ($15,590.40 per child). Two hundred and fifty one less children, ten million dollars more expense.

We believe it is in the best interests of the community that the BOE review its spending from the ground up, with a first year goal to return spending to the parameters of 2004, adjusted for inflation, of $12,308.34 per student. This would call for a 2010-2011 budget of not more than $35.5 million.

Many school districts have realized dramatic savings by consolidating resources with neighboring districts and townships, outsourcing administration, transportation and maintenance functions to private contractors, eliminating wasteful programs, reviewing their needs for sites and facilities, and generally returning their mission to spending money on the students in the classrooms.

We call on the Washington Township K-8 board of Education to put forth and a budget for 2010-2011 of not more than $35.5 million