By Anne Levin
At its regular meeting on Monday evening, May 12, Princeton Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution for a shared services agreement in which the town gives 100 percent of the surplus from the annual PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the Avalon Thanet Circle 55-plus housing complex to the Princeton Public Schools.
Nearly all members of the School Board, including Interim Superintendent Kathie Foster, were in attendance, applauding the resolution once the vote was passed.
According to information in the agenda packet, the funds will go toward maintaining certain public facilities within the municipality “that are utilized for the School District’s educational needs as well as by the municipality and its residents for civic and club activities, athletic and recreational activities, election polling, and other public needs.”
The issue of PILOTs has been controversial in recent years, with some local residents claiming they cheat the schools out of their share of property taxes.
“This agreement is a culmination of years of thoughtful dialogue and collaboration,” School Board President Dafna Kendal said before the vote was taken. She thanked members of the Board and Council who worked on the agreement, specifically mentioning School Board members Jean Durbin and Betsy Baglio, Council President Mia Sacks, and Councilman Brian McDonald.
“As the town continues to grow,” Kendal added, “we deeply appreciate the innovation and collaboration that made this shared services agreement possible. It is a thoughtful and equitable step forward.”
McDonald, who is a former School Board member, expressed his gratitude for the work done to hammer out the agreement. “There is no question that our local schools and schools throughout the country are facing tremendous challenges right now,” he said. “One of the challenges our local schools face is a financial one. This is an important way of acknowledging the schools, providing them with critical resources that help educate our town’s children and do so in a manner consistent with what we’ve done for decades here.”
Kendal and Sacks released a joint statement about the agreement:
“Princeton’s Municipal government and Board of Education share one town,” it reads. “We also share a strong commitment to the value of public education as the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. As Princeton wraps up the Third Round of state-mandated affordable housing and embarks on the Fourth Round, it is essential that both public bodies work closely together to plan responsibly for anticipated growth. This PILOT revenue-sharing agreement is a good start, and we look forward to ongoing collaboration on a variety of issues to provide maximum benefit to Princeton taxpayers.”
The next public meeting of Princeton Council is on Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m.