Council Votes to Reduce School Tax Levy By $135K

The Manchester Town Council voted Monday night during a special meeting to cut the school budget's local tax levy by $135,000.

The unanimous passage of the resolution reducing the budget, which was during an April 27 vote, came after members of the school board and town council held both to find areas where cuts could be made without impacting educational standards.

The $50 million budget's local tax levy was reduced from $40,797,161 to $40,662,161. According to Craig Lorentzen, the school district's business administrator, this should mean about a $6 savings from the failed budget's proposed $54 tax increase for homes assessed at the township's average of $194,100.

Five cuts were made to the budget: 

• $11,500 reduction in funding for school trips;
• $30,000 reduction of tuition for students attending Regional Day School;
• $37,000 reduction for a disabled student who has left the district;
• $8,500 decrease in funding for Central Services supplies;
• $48,000 savings in salary for a middle school teacher who will not return next year due to attrition;

These cuts, officials said, should not impact programs or staff.

Check back at Manchester Patch for reaction from members of the town council and school administrators.