Regional school district unveils revised tax rates

Regional school district
unveils revised tax rates

A tentative schedule of tax rates for the eight sending communities in the Freehold Regional High School District has been determined. However, the rates will not become effective until the district’s 2002-03 budget is approved by the state commissioner of education.

The budget totals about $126 million.

"I was notified by the Monmouth County superintendent of schools that at this time we are not allowed to approve the budget until the state commissioner of education sends over a letter verifying the amounts that were agreed upon by all eight municipalities," said James Wasser, superintendent of schools. "There is an understanding that the $1.5 million cut will be confirmed. However, we are not able to move forward until we receive a letter from the commissioner."

When the Board of Education’s proposed budget for the coming school year was rejected by voters in the April 16 election, the defeated plan was forwarded to the governing body in each of the eight municipalities. Municipal officials in the eight towns eventually agreed to ask the board to trim the $81.58 million tax levy by $1.5 million.

Under the budget that was rejected by voters, the tax increases proposed in the eight FRHSD communities were:

• In Colts Neck, from 46.4 cents to 63.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (increase of 17.2 cents).

• In Englishtown, from 36.7 cents to 48 cents per $100 (increase of 11.3 cents).

• In Farmingdale, from 44.6 cents to 52 cents per $100 (increase of 7.4 cents).

• In Freehold Borough, from 52.2 cents to 61.7 cents per $100 (increase of 9.5 cents).

• In Freehold Township, from 44.3 cents to 57.4 cents per $100 (increase of 13.1 cents).

• In Howell, from 49.3 cents to 62.8 cents per $100 (increase of 13.5 cents).

• In Manalapan, from 59.6 cents to 72.4 cents per $100 (increase of 12.8 cents).

• In Marlboro, from 58.3 cents to 73.6 cents per $100 (increase of 15.3 cents).

If, and when, the approval is received by the FRHSD, it is expected that the new tax rates will be:

• In Colts Neck, from 46.4 cents to 62.4 per $100,000 of assessed value (increase of 16 cents). That is a $320 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $200,000. The initial increase would have been $344.

• In Englishtown, from 36.7 cents to 47.1 cents per $100 (increase of 10.4 cents). That is a $104 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $100,000. The initial increase would have been $113.

• In Farmingdale, from 44.6 cents to 51 cents per $100 (increase of 6.4 cents). That is a $64 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $100,000. The initial increase would have been $74.

• In Freehold Borough, from 52.2 cents to 60.5 cents per $100 (increase of 8.3 cents). That is a $100 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $120,000. The initial increase would have been $114.

• In Freehold Township from 44.3 cents to 56.3 cents per $100 (increase of 12 cents). That is a $240 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $200,000. The initial increase would have been $262.

• In Howell, from 49.3 cents to 61.6 cents per $100 (increase of 12.3 cents). That is a $246 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $200,000. The initial increase would have been $270.

In Manalapan, from 59.6 cents to 71 cents per $100 (increase of 11.4 cents). That is a $228 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $200,000. The initial increase would have been $256.

• In Marlboro, from 58.3 cents to 72.2 cents per $100 (increase of 13.9 cents). That is a $278 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $200,000. The initial increase would have been $306.

The tax levy for each town in the district is: Colts Neck, $7,965,109; Englishtown, $449,958; Farmingdale, $337,203; Freehold Borough, $2,928,131; Freehold Township, $15,560,483; Howell, $16,651,135; Manalapan, $16,190,784; and Marlboro, $19,963,354.

These tentative figures were revised as of June 10 and will become effective upon approval of the budget which is now before the state commissioner of education.

The six schools in the district — in Colts Neck, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro — currently enroll about 9,700 students. Enrollment is expected to exceed 10,000 students in the next school year.