1.99 Percent Tax Increase For 2012-13
The Lower Merion Board of School Directors unanimously passed the 2012-13 school year budget on Monday night.
Residents will be subject to a 1.99 percent tax increase next year, following the Lower Merion Board of School Directors' unanimous approval of the 2012-13 school year budget at their regular business meeting Monday night. The 2 percent figure boils down to a $114 increase for the median Lower Merion home, worth $250,000.
The $212,809,404 budget passed Monday night is the same revised budget presented at the board's April 16 meeting. It calls for no program cuts or layoffs, and the tax increase is down from the originally proposed 3.9 percent increase called for in January.
In January, the district netted $3.3 million in savings from a bond sale and subsequent payoff to year-2002 bond holders. That money helped reduce the tax increase, business administrator Vic Orlando said. The rate comparison is shown in the following table.
| Year | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 |
2012-2013 (old) |
2012-2013 (new) |
| Bill for $250K house | $5,572 | $5,757 | $5,982 | $5,871 |
| Annual increase | N/A | $185 | $225 | $114 |
The 1.99 percent increase will be the smallest in recent memory, board president Diane DiBonaventuro said in April.
See also:
- School Board Cuts Tax Increase in Half (April 16, 2012)
- Expecting Savings Later, Lower Merion School Board OKs Preliminary Budget (Jan. 23, 2012)
Bob Guzzardi
7:14 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The Democrats, year after year, take their neighbors household income and for what? Are students learning more? And it will only get worse in next few years when the most generous defined benefit pensions come due. Relentless, these Democrats, are they not?
Wynnewoodie
8:25 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Bob -
Five of the nine seats on the Lower Merion school board were contested last year. Remind me again -- how many Republicans ran for school board in 2011?
None.
The truth is, every Lower Merion resident depends on these schools either to educate their children or to maintain their property values.
So this isn't a Republican/Democrat issue; it's about who is willing to do the work we all depend on and who isn't.
Mike
1:46 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tax and spend Democrats have ruled Lower Merion and Narberth for years. Raise taxes,pay through the nose for employees salaries,and benefits and just spend like everyone in the township has deep,deep pockets. I have yet to hear of a Democrat politician say no to additional taxes and spending.