School board to hear pros and cons of parcel tax

"The focus of the meeting will be the district's budget, and the issues about the parcel tax raised by former board member Todd Collins will be discussed. Collins has argued that it may not be necessary to replace the expiring $941-per-year parcel tax because the money the district gets from the regular property tax has been increasing beyond what a parcel tax would generate. Meanwhile, enrollment is decreasing. The district has fewer kids to educate."

"Collins says that 10 years ago, the district received funding of about $16,000 a student. This year, that number is more than double - $35,000 per student. Dharap said he's concerned about the budget because cuts may be necessary. He's talked to officials in other districts who have had to make cuts. And he said many grants were issued during the Covid pandemic, and if they were five-year grants, a common length, the grants would be ending about now."

Board president Shounak Dharap placed the expiring $941-per-year parcel tax renewal on the Feb. 10 agenda at 6:30 p.m., 25 Churchill Ave. Former board member Todd Collins contends the parcel tax may be unnecessary because regular property tax revenue has grown beyond what the parcel tax would generate while enrollment declines. Per-student funding rose from about $16,000 a decade ago to more than $35,000 this year. Dharap expressed concern that budget cuts may be required. He said he has spoken with officials in other districts that made cuts and noted pandemic-era grants, often five-year awards, are likely ending now.

Read at Padailypost