Voters say ‘yes’ to school budget

Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 11:22 pm

Share and Enjoy:

Cherry Hill residents have passed the school district budget.

According to unofficial election results posted on the district’s Web site (www.cherryhill.k12.nj.us), there were 3,606 votes for the budget and 1,960 votes against it. The average homeowner in Cherry Hill will pay about $8 more in school taxes this year under the $171 million budget.

Two new members will also join the Board of Education after the election Tuesday. Colleen Harron-Horiates (3,842 votes) and Wayne Tarken (3,806) claimed four-year seats on the board along with incumbent Kathy Judge (3,925). The three ran uncontested in the election.

See the April 29 print edition of The Sun for more coverage.

Related items

board of education, election, school budget, vote

7 Responses to “Voters say ‘yes’ to school budget”

Mike Says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:03 pm

Well I have finally come to the conclusion the citizens of Cherry Hill enjoy giving away their money. The result of this vote stands as proof. Please do not stand in line and cry about what is spent in our twp, it is evident you all do not care. As teachers drive to school in their Volvos and Mercedes and take the summer off, I will continue to drive my 15 year old car and HOPE to have enough change to get my kids a candy bar as a treat on payday. Thank you Cherry Hill

I think I will make a new bumper sticker ” one of 1960 “

Rob Says:
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 am

Mike, people move to Cherry Hill for the high quality schools. No one likes paying property taxes, but unlike other districts with high taxes, at least we have exceptional schools to show for it. I have two young children, and would love to see property taxes lower, but I’m glad that at least I don’t have to think about paying private school tuition. A vote for the budget does not indicate that we don’t care, just that we may view things differently than you do. Your opinion is valid, but so is mine.

Mike Says:
April 24th, 2009 at 11:02 am

At one time the idea that our schools were of a higher quality than others was correct.That is back in the day this is no longer true.The measure of a good education is not how much money we throw at it.If you were to look at other schools in our area you would find the scores are higher and the money spent is lower.A no vote would have resulted in the township having to cut the budget more . Have you ever noticed when a mayor talks about saving money they always talk about cutting fire police and parks all the things that directly effect us ? My children and their friends have been learning adhoc spanish for 3 years and not one of them can tell a police officer in spanish that they are lost and need help.This is not money well spent.So while we agree to disagree a yes vote still meant more taxes and NOT a better education.I remain 1 of 1960

Mike Says:
April 24th, 2009 at 11:34 am

One last thing Mount Laurel educates the children for One Thousand dollars less a year and they are Ranked Number 5 on NJASK .Guess where Cherry Hill ranking is!

Paul Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 am

I noticed that the 2009 ballot that came in the mail had the budget amount as 144 million, which was the amount for 2008. I guess no one noticed the error. Maybe Cherry Hill residents thought that the school budget was the same as last year…instead a 27 million increase, or 19 percent. Wish I could get those kind of raises…actually my pay was down last year from the previous one, and I have worked two jobs for the last 15 years. The teachers have no concept of what a salary decrease is. And the 8 dollar increase, that is per 1000 of valuation, so property valued at 100,000 will get a 800 dollar tax increase…so for the average Cherry Hill homeowner, that will come to over a 10 percent increase next year….

Susan Bastnagel Says:
July 9th, 2009 at 10:10 am

Response to Paul:

There was no error on the ballot. The amount on the ballot was for the local tax levy for 2009-2010. This is $144 million and represents no increase over the previous year’s tax levy.

The local tax levy makes up 83.8% of the school district’s $171 million general fund budget. Revenues also come from state aid (9.85%), federal funds (0.05%), fund balance (5.22%), and other local revenues (e.g., interest on investments).

The $8 tax increase for the average homeowner will occur because of decline in township ratables, which affects the tax base. But there is NO INCREASE in the school tax levy. The tax levy is FLAT.

KMB Says:
April 21st, 2010 at 11:44 am

The county web site is showing that the budget proposal failed.
Cherry Hill Proposal
21/22 95.45%
Under Votes 35
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
- Yes 4,905 48.10%
- No 5,292 51.90%
Total 10,197 100.00%

Mike Says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Well I have finally come to the conclusion the citizens of Cherry Hill enjoy giving away their money. The result of this vote stands as proof. Please do not stand in line and cry about what is spent in our twp, it is evident you all do not care. As teachers drive to school in their Volvos and Mercedes and take the summer off, I will continue to drive my 15 year old car and HOPE to have enough change to get my kids a candy bar as a treat on payday. Thank you Cherry Hill

I think I will make a new bumper sticker ” one of 1960 “
Rob Says:
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 am
Mike, people move to Cherry Hill for the high quality schools. No one likes paying property taxes, but unlike other districts with high taxes, at least we have exceptional schools to show for it. I have two young children, and would love to see property taxes lower, but I’m glad that at least I don’t have to think about paying private school tuition. A vote for the budget does not indicate that we don’t care, just that we may view things differently than you do. Your opinion is valid, but so is mine.
Mike Says:
April 24th, 2009 at 11:02 am
At one time the idea that our schools were of a higher quality than others was correct.That is back in the day this is no longer true.The measure of a good education is not how much money we throw at it.If you were to look at other schools in our area you would find the scores are higher and the money spent is lower.A no vote would have resulted in the township having to cut the budget more . Have you ever noticed when a mayor talks about saving money they always talk about cutting fire police and parks all the things that directly effect us ? My children and their friends have been learning adhoc spanish for 3 years and not one of them can tell a police officer in spanish that they are lost and need help.This is not money well spent.So while we agree to disagree a yes vote still meant more taxes and NOT a better education.I remain 1 of 1960
Mike Says:
April 24th, 2009 at 11:34 am
One last thing Mount Laurel educates the children for One Thousand dollars less a year and they are Ranked Number 5 on NJASK .Guess where Cherry Hill ranking is!
Paul Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 am
I noticed that the 2009 ballot that came in the mail had the budget amount as 144 million, which was the amount for 2008. I guess no one noticed the error. Maybe Cherry Hill residents thought that the school budget was the same as last year…instead a 27 million increase, or 19 percent. Wish I could get those kind of raises…actually my pay was down last year from the previous one, and I have worked two jobs for the last 15 years. The teachers have no concept of what a salary decrease is. And the 8 dollar increase, that is per 1000 of valuation, so property valued at 100,000 will get a 800 dollar tax increase…so for the average Cherry Hill homeowner, that will come to over a 10 percent increase next year….
Susan Bastnagel Says:
July 9th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Response to Paul:

There was no error on the ballot. The amount on the ballot was for the local tax levy for 2009-2010. This is $144 million and represents no increase over the previous year’s tax levy.

The local tax levy makes up 83.8% of the school district’s $171 million general fund budget. Revenues also come from state aid (9.85%), federal funds (0.05%), fund balance (5.22%), and other local revenues (e.g., interest on investments).

The $8 tax increase for the average homeowner will occur because of decline in township ratables, which affects the tax base. But there is NO INCREASE in the school tax levy. The tax levy is FLAT.
KMB Says:
April 21st, 2010 at 11:44 am
The county web site is showing that the budget proposal failed.
Cherry Hill Proposal
21/22 95.45%
Under Votes 35
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
- Yes 4,905 48.10%
- No 5,292 51.90%
Total 10,197 100.00%

Click here to cancel reply.

Cherry Hill Sun