Voters approve budget, $1.3M in extra costs

ENGLISHTOWN - Even though voters in Englishtown rejected two ballot questions in the April 17 school election, residents of Manalapan carried the day for the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education.

The total vote count on each question was enough to approve a $43.9 million general fund tax levy to support a $71.8 million budget for the 2007-08 school year, and to approve a second question that will allow the school district to collect an additional $1.3 million in taxes and pay for field trips, after-school activities and school-sponsored athletics, among other items.

The programs, personnel and equipment covered by the second question had been in danger of being cut from the school district.

According to election results provided by school district Business Administrator Joseph Passiment on April 20, the general fund tax levy was approved by a count of 1,796 yes votes to 1,537 no votes.

In Manalapan, the tax levy was approved 1,748 to 1,426, and in Englishtown the tax levy was defeated 111 to 48.

The second ballot question was approved by a count of 1,688 yes votes to 1,636 no votes.

In Manalapan, the second question was approved 1,649 to 1,517, and in Englishtown the second question was defeated 119 to 39.

The results were not certified as of April 20, but no change in the outcome of the election was expected.

Voters in Manalapan also elected four members to the district's Board of Education. Winning three-year terms were Joanne Orr, 1,766 votes, Anthony Manisero, 1,596 votes, and James Mumolie, 1,383 votes.

Orr and Manisero are incumbents and Mumolie is a former board member who will rejoin the panel.

Former board member Martin Spindel, 1,317 votes, came up short in his bid to regain a seat.

Board member Dr. Valerie Maglione, 1,993 votes, won an uncontested election to complete an unexpired term.

Passiment said that in Manalapan, 15.08 percent of registered voters went to the polls (3,573 out of 23,691 registered voters) and in Englishtown, 16.29 percent of registered voters went to the polls (161 out of 988 registered voters).

According to information previously provided by district administrators, the property taxes to be collected in the second question will pay for the following:

+ field trips, $52,527.

+ after-school activities, $175,563.

+ school-sponsored athletics, $123,233.

+ school counselors, $395,094.

+ computer technicians, $113,956.

+ bus mechanic, $45,000.

+ benefits, $145,585.

+ playgrounds, gym floor replacement, $237,000.

+ video cameras for buses, $25,586.

The 2007-08 budget calls for the district to pay $6.2 million in debt service (payment on outstanding loans). Of that amount, $4.6 million will be raised through local property taxes. Residents do not vote on the debt service tax levy.

According to a handout provided by Passiment about the tax impact of the two budget questions, in Englishtown, approval of the primary budget question will cost the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 an additional $71 per year. Approval of the second budget question will cost the owner of that same home an additional $51 per year (combined K-8 school district property tax increase of $122 on a home assessed at $100,000; combined increase of $244 on a home assessed at $200,000; combined increase of $366 on a home assessed at $300,000).

According to the same handout about the tax impact of the two budget questions, in Manalapan, approval of the primary budget question will cost the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 an additional $52 per year. Approval of the second budget question will cost the owner of that same home an additional $10 per year.

The approval of both questions will cost the owner of a Manalapan home assessed at $100,000 an additional $62 in property taxes in the 2007-08 school year. Approval of both questions will cost the owner of a Manalapan home assessed at $200,000 an additional $124 in property taxes. Approval of both questions will cost the owner of a Manalapan home assessed at $300,000 an additional $186 in property taxes.

The approval of both questions will cost the owner of a Manalapan home assessed at $400,000 an additional $248 in property taxes. Approval of both questions will cost the owner of a Manalapan home assessed at $500,000 an additional $310 in property taxes. Approval of both questions will cost the owner of a Manalapan home assessed at $600,000 an additional $372 in property taxes.

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