Salisbury board signals support for 5.3% tax increase to fund new positions, rebuffs middle‑school bus cut

Salisbury Township School District board members on April 17 moved toward adopting a 5.3% tax-rate assumption for the 2024‑25 budget to cover five proposed staff positions and facilities needs, after weeks of staff presentations and a sustained debate over using volatile interest income to fund recurring costs.

Administration presented a budget that includes five new positions (two elementary teachers, two ESL positions, a full‑time nurse and a full‑time utility/maintenance position) and noted an approximate $200,000 gap remaining under the 5.3% scenario. Finance staff said the budget assumes roughly $451,500 in interest income — an intentionally conservative estimate compared with higher actual interest receipts the district has realized this year from bond reserves.

Why it matters: Board members split over whether to use nonrecurring interest income to sustain recurring personnel costs. Supporters said the positions respond to clear instructional and facilities needs; opponents urged caution, warning that if interest income falls the district could be forced to eliminate positions later.

Board discussion focused on priorities and risk. Several members said the district should prioritize at least one additional elementary teacher and a facilities/grounds position. “If we want our facilities to a certain level we need to hire an additional person,” an administrator told the board during the staffing discussion. Other board members said they were willing to support the 5.3% assumption for now but wanted contingency planning and transparency if revenue projections change.

The board also considered eliminating a middle‑school bus route to save roughly $50,000–$60,000. District staff and transportation personnel reported that consolidating four routes to three would raise average loads, putting at least two buses above 50 students and creating situations where students would be seated three to a seat on some trips. Chris (district staff responsible for transportation) told the board that while a 72‑passenger bus may be legal for certain configurations, routinely seating three middle‑school students per seat would be «not what’s best for our kids,» and the administration recommended keeping the route.

Votes and next steps: Administration asked whether a majority of the board would allow staff to plan on the 5.3% assumption; multiple members expressed support or a reluctant assent with requests for ongoing review. The board did not finalize a tax rate at the meeting; staff were directed to proceed under the 5.3% planning assumption while preparing detailed contingency analysis for the next operations and finance committee meeting.

The board’s decision to proceed cautiously reflects competing priorities: immediate instructional needs, facilities maintenance and the risk of depending on nonrecurring revenue. The board scheduled further budget and facilities discussion at upcoming committee meetings ahead of formal budget adoption.