Residents face higher school tax
BY TOYNETT HALL
Staff Writer

HOWELL - Township resident Darrell Zimmerman expressed his frustration about an impending tax increase to the Board of Education during a public hearing on the school district's budget for the 2007-08 school year.

During a meeting held March 28 at Howell Middle School North, Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, the board adopted a $108.6 million budget for the coming school year.

While the K-8 school tax rate is projected to drop from $2.12 to 98.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, some Howell taxpayers will not be paying less in actual dollars. The tax rate is dropping due to the fact that all Howell properties were revalued in the past year.

Last year a home assessed at $150,000 (the township average) produced a K-8 tax bill of $3,180.

The new average assessment in Howell is $350,000 and that homeowner will now pay about $3,458 in K-8 taxes - an increase of $278.

The owner of a home assessed at $400,000 will pay $3,952 in K-8 school taxes; the owner of a home assessed at $500,000 will pay $4,940 in K-8 school taxes; and the owner of a home assessed at $600,000 will pay $5,928 in K-8 school taxes during 2007-08.

The K-8 school tax is one portion of a property owner's overall tax bill. The tax bill also includes municipal taxes, Freehold Regional High School District taxes, Monmouth County taxes and several other assessments.

Zimmerman, who expressed his displeasure with the tax increase, wondered aloud whether his vote in the April 17 election would make a difference.

"If the budget is approved or disapproved, what's the difference to me? Whether I vote yes or no my taxes will go up anyway. Why even go through this whole process if it really doesn't make a difference?" Zimmerman said.

He was referring to the fact that if the budget is defeated it will be reviewed by the Township Council, which may recommend an amount to be cut from the spending plan. However, in most cases almost all of the tax increase requested by the board will be passed on to property owners.

However, board President Mary Cerretani said, "It does make a difference. Money is necessary in order for us to provide an education for Howell children."

According to board Vice President Louis Corato, state law requires a school board to place its budget before the voters. Municipal, county and state budgets are not put up for voter approval.

Corato said the public hearing that is held on the budget is used to inform residents about what they are paying for.

"We do not want to impose a dollar figure on people without them at least having the understanding of what they're paying for," Corato said.

On April 17, voters will be asked to approve a general fund tax levy of $61.4 million. Residents will not vote on the debt service tax levy of $7.7 million. In total, Howell property owners will pay $69.2 million to support the operation of the K-8 district in the coming year.

Resident Mark Bonjavanni, who is a

former member of the school board, said ultimately residents need to decide what programs and services are important to them.

"Really what you're voting on, in terms of why [you should] vote at all, is what services above and beyond a thorough and efficient education you want this town to maintain," Bonjavanni said.

According to information included in a presentation about the budget, if voters reject the budget on Election Day, the following programs could be cut: fifth grade intramurals, middle school sports and co-curricular activities.

Resident Anne Cahalane suggested that the board bill parents who want their children to play sports and to exclude others who do not.

Although Corato said the state has failed to provide adequate funding, he said the board has stretched every dollar to maintain as many services as possible.

"Even with this budget of $108 million we are still providing the same level of service. We are not cutting programs, at least not yet, and we are not raising the class size. We have found ways to make it work," Corato said.

According to Cerretani, board members have carefully scrutinized the budget. She said they, too, will experience the tax increase.

"We are taxpayers, too. We are all volunteers. When it comes to the budget we take every effort to make sure what we are doing is fiscally responsible," Cerretani said.

The Howell school district operates 10 elementary schools and three middle schools.