From the Philadelphia Inquirer, April 10, 2010
CINNAMINSON - After nearly three hours of discussion that at times got heated, the school board adopted a 2010-11 budget that calls for a hefty tax hike and the elimination of 18 teachers and several aides.
"No one likes this budget," Superintendent Salvatore Illuzzi told more than 100 people gathered at the middle school Tuesday night for a public hearing.
The $42 million spending plan not only cuts staff at all four schools, but also increases the school tax rate 12.99 cents, from $1.425 to $1.555 per $100 of assessed property value.
If voters approve the $29.47 million tax levy at the April 20 school election, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $294,500 would pay $4,580 in school taxes, an increase of $382 over last year.
Resident Bill Conley told Illuzzi and the board members that he's tapped out.
"Some people may say it's only $382, but I don't have any more to give," Conley said.
The budget will cut a combined nine teachers at the New Albany Elementary and Eleanor Rush Intermediate schools, three at the middle school, and six at the high school. Six support staff and five teaching aides also will be terminated.
The cuts were made because of a loss of $3.4 million in state aid and surplus funds that were required to be spent under state mandate over the last several months.
Throughout Tuesday's hearing, residents and teachers complained that the district is in this predicament because of the escalating salaries of the administrative staff.
"The salaries of the administration are out of control," one woman yelled out to a round of applause.
Illuzzi said the administrative raises, which average 4.73 percent annually over a three-year contract, were approved by the board in 2008 before the economy soured.
He said the raises were below the county average of 5.1 percent and were approved by the county superintendent of schools.
Illuzzi also noted that all of the contracts were publicized and that the school board held public hearings on them.
Discussions with the district's bargaining units to change insurance plans and offer buyouts to teachers near retirement age could result in fewer teaching positions being eliminated next year.
"It's that savings that will allow us to bring back some of the staff that's being let go," Illuzzi said Wednesday.
If the unions agree to the changes, he anticipated that more than a half-dozen teachers slated to be laid off would be spared. At least six teachers are expected to retire and Illuzzi was hopeful that even more will agree to early retirement.
Ultimately, the voters will decide what happens to the budget.
"If it's defeated and it goes to the Township Committee, it's a safe bet they'll chop the budget (more)," Illuzzi said
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