PETERSBURG — The Upper Township Board of Education introduced its $43,178,687 budget for 2026-27 on March 23, calling for a tax rate increase of 3.9 cents.
The tax rate would increase to $1.6888 and the tax levy would rise more than $2 million to $32,665,274.
The budget has been submitted to the executive county superintendent for approval. A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 27 at the Upper Township Middle School.
According to the district, the budget includes a $167,100 adjustment for enrollment and a $145,379 adjustment for increased health benefits costs.
General fund appropriations include a $600,000 withdrawal from the Maintenance Reserve Account and a $950,000 withdrawal from the Tuition Reserve Account.
Last year, the board adopted a budget with a 4-cent increase in the tax rate to $1.649 per $100 of assessed value.
Township Committee introduced its $18,409,035 spending plan March 9 calling for a 2.97-cent tax rate increase.
The 9 percent rate increase boosts the total municipal tax rate to 35.3 cents per $100 of assessed value, or $353 on each $100,000. The owner of a $300,000 home would see a municipal tax bill of $1,059, an increase of about $106. There also is a fire district tax and county tax.
The municipal tax levy would increase $613,877 to $6,826,420, which amounts to about 14 percent of the total amount to be raised by taxes. The school uses about 70 percent.
On March 10, the Cape May County Board of Commissioners introduced the $223,271,377 budget with a tax rate decrease of .9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 16 cents.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff