Hopewell Borough

This is the Hopewell Borough example, again, the family will remain constant, except there will beno Busing Fee, since Hopewell Borough is outside the Hazardous Busing region for both the middle school and the high school:

Valuation of home: $452,312 (Avg. Assessment)
Number of students: 2, one in middle school, other in high school
Location: Inside the Mandated Busing region

So, lets look at Hopewell Borough:

2006 Taxes paid: $4,790
2006 Activities Fees: $0 (included in 2006 taxes)
2006 Busing Fees: $0 (included in 2006 taxes)
2006 Total Taxes & Fees: $4,790

2007 Taxes (est.): $5,066 ($276 increase, both proposals approved)
2007 Activities Fees: $150 (100% increase)
2007 Busing Fees: $0 (0% increase, outside Hazardous Busing region)
2007 Total Taxes & Fees (est.): $5,216 (8.9% increase)

An 8.9% increase in out-of-pocket costs for a family with two students seems quite high for the same level of services. Of course, the Activity Fees are optional, but many consider the services it funds essential.