Voters OK 2 questions for regional H.S. district
BY MARK ROSMAN
Staff Writer

Voters in the Freehold Regional High School District gave thumbs up to two ballot questions in the April 17 school election.

The first question asked voters to approve a general fund tax levy of $105.3 million to support a budget that totals $165.1 million for the 2007-08 school year.

According to results provided by a school district spokeswoman, the first question (general fund tax levy) was approved by a total count of 8,555 yes votes to 7,037 no votes.

The vote broke down as follows according to each sending municipality: Colts Neck, 803 yes, 624 no; Englishtown, 99 no, 60 yes; Farmingdale, 96 yes, 75 no; Freehold Borough, 380 yes, 279 no; Freehold Township, 1,495 yes, 1,097 no; Howell, 1,990 no, 1,812 yes; Manalapan, 1,760 yes, 1,406 no; and Marlboro, 2,149 yes, 1,467 no.

The district's total debt service (payments on outstanding loans) for 2007-08 will be $7.6 million. The debt service tax levy will be $5 million. Residents do not vote on the debt service tax levy.

The second question asked voters to approve an additional tax levy of $1.3 million for freshman sports, auditorium renovations, roofing repairs, instructional and non-instructional equipment.

According to results provided by the spokeswoman, the second question was approved by a total count of 8,013 yes votes to 7,527 no votes.

The vote broke down as follows according to each sending municipality: Colts Neck, 737 yes, 682 no; Englishtown, 112 no, 47 yes; Farmingdale, 92 no, 78 yes; Freehold Borough, 346 yes, 312 no; Freehold Township, 1,407 yes, 1,183 no; Howell, 2,073 no, 1,720 yes; Manalapan, 1,648 yes, 1,496 no; and Marlboro, 2,030 yes, 1,577 no.

Because the second question was approved, Freehold and Marlboro high schools will receive renovations to their auditoriums. In addition, Freehold and Manalapan high schools and the district's administration building in Englishtown will receive roofing repairs. Freshman sports will continue to be part of the high school district's athletic program.

Funds raised for district security will be used for the extension of cameras and other equipment aimed at keeping the schools safe, district administrators had said.

Superintendent of Schools James Wasser said, "I am elated and really happy with the support we received for our budget. I knew it was going to be very difficult with the state cap [on the tax levy] we were under and the second question we were asking. I appreciate the support we received from parents, staff members, the community and our students."

The tax impact of the two budget questions will be spread among the district's eight sending municipalities in the following manner:

+ Colts Neck - Taxpayers will be responsible for paying $10.8 million of the $105.3 million general fund tax levy. They will be responsible for paying $139,122 of the second question tax levy of $1.3 million. With both questions approved, the FRHSD tax rate will increase 4.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (an increase of $138 to the owner of a home assessed at $300,000).

+ Englishtown - Taxpayers will be responsible for paying $626,697 of the $105.3 million general fund tax levy. They will be responsible for paying $8,054 of the second question tax levy of $1.3 million. With both questions approved, the FRHSD tax rate will decrease 3.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (a decrease of $72 to the owner of a home assessed at $200,000).

+ Farmingdale - Taxpayers will be responsible for paying $542,368 of the $105.3 million general fund tax levy. They will be responsible for paying $6,970 of the second question tax levy of $1.3 million. With both questions approved, the FRHSD tax rate will decrease 4.7 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (a decrease of $94 to the owner of a home assessed at $200,000).

+ Freehold Borough - Taxpayers will be responsible for paying $3.8 million of the $105.3 million general fund tax levy. They will be responsible for paying $48,852 of the second question tax levy of $1.3 million. With both questions approved, the FRHSD tax rate will decrease 0.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (a decrease of $6 to the owner of a home assessed at $200,000).

+ Freehold Township - Taxpayers will be responsible for paying $20.4 million of the $105.3 million general fund tax levy. They will be responsible for paying $262,912 of the second question tax levy of $1.3 million. With both questions approved, the FRHSD tax rate will increase 3.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (an increase of $114 to the owner of a home assessed at $300,000).

+ Howell - Taxpayers will be responsible for paying $22.8 million of the $105.3 million general fund tax levy. They will be responsible for paying $293,459 of the second question tax levy of $1.3 million. A property revaluation in Howell precludes an exact estimate of the new FRHSD tax rate. Based on last year's property values, Howell would have increased by 1.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

+ Manalapan - Taxpayers will be responsible for paying $21 million of the $105.3 million general fund tax levy. They will be responsible for paying $270,715 of the second question tax levy of $1.3 million. A property revaluation in Manalapan precludes an exact estimate of the new FRHSD tax rate. Based on last year's property values, Manalapan would have increased by 3.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

+ Marlboro - Taxpayers will be responsible for paying $25.1 million of the $105.3 million general fund tax levy. They will be responsible for paying $322,693 of the second question tax levy of $1.3 million. With both questions approved, the FRHSD tax rate will increase 1.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (a $48 increase to the owner of a home assessed at $300,000).

The FRHSD school tax is one portion of a property owner's overall tax bill. The tax bill also includes municipal taxes, elementary school taxes, Monmouth County taxes and several other assessments.

The FRHSD is made up of eight sending municipalities and operates six high schools. The present total enrollment is about 11,800 students.

In an uncontested race for four seats on the FRHSD Board of Education, incumbents Michael Wright of Freehold Township, Ron Lawson of Howell, Diana Cappiello of Englishtown and Kathie Lavin of Farmingdale were returned to their seats.