Schools ask higher fees for use of buildings
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

ENGLISHTOWN - At a time when Manalapan municipal officials and school board members are looking to develop shared services comes news that the school board is raising the fees it charges Manalapan for the use of its gymnasiums for municipal recreation programs.

Manalapan Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth told members of the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education at their March 20 meeting that while she completely supports a shared services initiative, she still wants the board to formally submit a written statement to the Township Committee explaining why the district wants a fee increase of $75,000 to use the schools.

Board president Anthony Manisero said an increase in maintenance costs is the reason why the school district is seeking a $75,000 increase in the fees, from $25,000 to $100,000.

Township Committeeman Anthony Gennaro had addressed the school board about the proposed $75,000 fee increase at its March 6 meeting.

Manisero said the reason why the Manalapan-Englishtown district has to increase its fees even though the Free-hold Regional High School District is not doing likewise is because the high school district has eight towns supporting it with tax dollars while the Manalapan-Englishtown district is only supported by tax dollars from two towns.

"We have serious concerns about a sound budget and having the budget passed, and budgets are getting harder to pass," Manisero said.

He pointed out that a school district must get public approval of its budget, while a municipal budget does not require public approval - only the votes of the members of the governing body to put it in place.

Board member Donna Formoso told Gennaro, "You don't need voter approval to pay (accounts payable), but we do. If you put something in your budget, it's a done deal."

The idea of shared services between the school board and Manalapan was discussed at the March 6 meeting.

Manisero noted that the school district does its own payroll and the township outsources its payroll. He suggested that perhaps the school board could take on the task of preparing the municipal payroll and save taxpayers some money.

Gennaro said since Manalapan taxpayers end up paying all of the bills that come due from the township or the school district, he thought any proposal that could result in either a consolidated service agreement or a reduced fee was worth exploring.

"At the end of the day we're all paying the bill. We should examine anywhere we can share costs," he said.

It was decided at the March 20 meeting that the school district and the township would continue to search for ways of sharing services.