Mendham Township 5.16% School Tax Increse is Too Much

Editor:

Our neighboring school districts are setting their tax levies in the range of 1% to 2% increases over last year. Chester schools propose a 1% increase; Randolph and Mendham Borough, 2% each; West Morris Regional, 1.7%.

But not Mendham Township. Here, the 2020-21 total tax levy is $17.6 million, a whopping 5.16% increase over last year. This increase is on top of a 5% increase last year and is tied mainly to a speculative bus transportation plan the school board has hatched. It doesn’t have anything to do with the quality of education that will be provided in the 2020-21 school year, nor does it need to be implemented this year.

Of major concern, this proposed budget assumes hefty state aid of $736,829, which is by no means guaranteed in the current economic climate. In fact, the governor has signaled that state school aid is at risk this year.

What the board is doing is nothing short of heartless. People are out of work and hurting. Morris County is suffering from an overload of coronavirus cases and, sadly, people are dying. Tax collections will likely be down. Many of our residents want the school board to reduce the levy, but to date, they refuse to budge, with only one board member voting against the increase.

There is one more board meeting – on Tuesday, May 5 – at which the public can comment on the budget. Residents can attend via phone or online and they should email the superintendent at sconstantino@mendhamtwp.org and ask to be notified with the up-to-date call-in information.