The average homeowner in Morristown and Morris Township will see a decrease in school taxes for 2024-25, even though the regional Morris School District board on Monday unanimously approved a $150 million budget with a 2.9 percent increase.

That’s according to district officials. Morristown residents may have difficulty believing them after a controversial tax revaluation, the town’s first in 17 years.

Morristown’s revaluation contractor sent notices to homeowners last fall projecting tax decreases for many — but those estimates were made before school- and Morris County taxes had been calculated. Residents subsequently have gotten some unwelcome revisions.

A complex “equalization” formula has increased Morristown’s share of the regional tax burden to about 40 percent, up seven points. The Township’s school obligation has come down by the same amount, to 60 percent.

“However, based on Morristown’s re-evaluation and the value of commercial property increasing more than residential properties, there is an estimated decrease for the average assessed (Morristown) home valued at $635,443,” said district Business Administrator Anthony LoFranco.

That hypothetical homeowner will see a $229 dip in school taxes, LoFranco said.

In the Township, where the “average” Township home is assessed at $560,500, he said the typical homeowner should see a $147 decrease in school taxes.

Morristown’s average home was assessed at just $357,595 last year, before completion of the revaluation.

The school tax rate works out to $779 per $1,000 of assessed value in Morristown, and $1,197 per $1,000 in the Township.

Of the $150 million budget, $103.8 million is the amount to be raised in taxes. The district receives about $20 million in various forms of aid — state aid is up by $1 million — plus $3.5 million in tuition from Morris Plains for its students at Morristown High School.

The district’s 10 schools serve about 5,000 students, according to LoFranco. Approximately 68 percent of the budget goes towards instruction.

Big increases for the coming school year include $3.2 million more for salaries, a rise of nearly 5 percent. Health benefits have risen by 4 percent. A new turf field at Harter Road will cost $2 million. Another $1.7 million is earmarked for a new district-wide security system.

Counseling services have been reduced by $100,000.

Budget hikes over 2 percent usually require voter approval. But the district was able to apply a “banked cap,” an accounting maneuver, to negate the overage.

Board member Linda Murphy, chair of the finance committee, said she is working on budget talking points for her Morristown colleagues to address constituents.

IN OTHER BUSINESS…

During the meeting’s public portion, Morristown resident Nicole Berman cited rising antisemitism and college unrest nationwide in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“We need an antisemitism policy. I don’t think we should wait until there is an issue,” Berman said.

Rosemary Monod of Morris Township urged the district to address a proliferation of rats she blames on lax trash collection outside the Alfred Vail School. Monod said an infestation forced one of her neighbors to evacuate her home for three months.

District Superintendent Anne Mucci said no rats have been seen inside the school. She promised to pursue Monod’s complaints.

The meeting began with a celebration of artistic achievements by district students, including a performance by a Frelinghuysen Middle School choir and kudos for Morristown High School teacher Lance Armstrong’s Colonial Corner News and WJSV-FM teams.