Resident urges board to reject 4.2% tax increase, cites stalled project funds

Molly Lum, a resident of the Northern Lebanon School District, told the committee during public comment that she opposes a proposed 4.2% property tax increase and urged the board to seek greater transparency on district finances. “If taxes have increased $1,000 in 5 years, what will the next 10 bring?” she said, saying cumulative increases since 2021 would amount to about $1,000 for her household if the new levy is approved.

Lum said one justification she was given for the increase—raising teacher salaries amid a shortage—was incomplete. “While I agree that recruiting teachers is challenging, higher pay alone does not retain them,” she said, adding that teachers also leave because of concerns about administration and classroom support.

Lum further challenged the board’s handling of construction‑related funds, saying roughly $3 million the township holds is tied to two letters of credit and that the district has not completed required inspection requests to release the funds: “This means the funds are not being withheld arbitrarily. Northern Lebanon has not completed the necessary steps to access them.” She said one elementary project request submitted in January covers just over $800,000 and that no inspection had been recorded as of her inquiry.

The chair thanked Lum and offered to speak with her further after the meeting. The board did not take a tax vote at the committee meeting; the public comment was recorded as part of the committee session and matters related to finance remain on the regular agenda for future action.