Tax increase eliminated as town cuts school tab
Officials lament voters' failure to participate in April election
BY ELANA ARON Correspondent
School taxes in Freehold Township will remain virtually unchanged in 2008-09 after the Township Committee cut $923,369 from the $53.9 million general fund local tax levy that was rejected in the April 15 school election.

The Freehold Township K-8 Board of Education sought approval of the tax levy to support a $67.9 million budget for the upcoming 2008-09 school year.

On May 7, the Township Committee in Freehold Township certified a tax levy of just over $53 million for the next school year.

The committee is recommending that the cuts come from eight salary line items (total of $509,000); lease purchase payments ($32,000); health benefits ($255,077); and operation and maintenance of plant services ($127,251).

The school board and school district administrators will determine exactly where the reductions will be made.

The cut will just about eliminate the projected 3-cent increase in the K-8 school tax rate. The board projected that with a $53.9 million general fund local tax levy, the tax rate would increase from $1.79 to $1.82 per $100 of assessed valuation.

That meant the owner of a home that is assessed at $200,000 would have paid about $3,640 in K-8 school taxes in 2008-09, up from $3,580 in 2007- 08. The owner of a home that is assessed at $400,000 would have paid about $7,280 in K-8 school taxes in 2008-09, up from $7,160 in 2007-08. The owner of a home that is assessed at $600,000 would have paid about $10,920 in K-8 school taxes in 2008-09, up from $10,740 in 2007-08.

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

After a reduction of more than $920,000 in the tax levy, the K-8 tax rate increase will now amount to a fraction of a cent, according to Freehold Township Superintendent of Schools William Setaro.

In speaking about the school budget, Township Administrator Thomas Antus said, "According to the state school funding formula, Freehold Township is supposed to get $16 million (in state aid). We only got $6 million. Freehold Township has a lower cost per pupil, generally higher test scores, and lower administrative costs than other similar towns. We have a wonderful school system that's being short-funded by the state and then it needs to go to the taxpayers."

Committee members were visibly upset and emotional as they discussed reduced funding to township schools.

"We discussed with school board members what cuts would be made and we're very reluctant to make the cuts because the school board does a superlative job," Mayor Eugene Golub said. "We're concerned why people didn't show up to vote on the school budget."

The $53.9 million tax levy was rejected in the April 15 election by a vote of 1,060 to 1,022.

"It bothers me that 40 people was the deciding factor that decided our budget," Deputy Mayor David Salkin said. "If people don't bother to show up to vote, it puts us in a position to change hats and make a drastic cut in their budget. I'm very unhappy to do it because I think it was a good budget. We have cut fat for so long that all we have left is muscle. We're left holding the bag as bad guys because of the mistakes they're making in Trenton."

Committee members were unanimous in their criticism of the state's handling of the situation.

"The system is broken and we are trying to set up a meeting with the state Board of Education and explain to them that one plus one equals two," Golub said.

Committeeman Anthony Ammiano said, "It's about time that Trenton wakes up."S

etaro expressed concern with the changes.

"We're all disappointed with the large amount of cuts being made," he said. "I understand that tough decisions need to be made. We're having tough times in New Jersey, but our cost per pupil is less than others in our peer group, test scores are higher. I think it's going to get worse until the state finds another way to fund (schools) besides property taxes. It's a vicious circle. The state is pitting the public against the schools and the municipalities against the schools. I can assure you that services will be cut, positions will be cut. I'm certainly not happy. The committee did it reluctantly, but we'll suffer."

Setaro also expressed the need for more community members to get involved in the process.

"I just wish that more people got involved," he said. "It's almost as if the public doesn't want to know what's in the budget. They don't want higher taxes. We get less than 10 percent from the state to fund our school district, so the money has to come from property taxes."

The superintendent thinks that things will get worse before they get better.

"The outlook for public education is not very bright," he said. "I really fear what's going to happen five or 10 years from now. My job is to continue to have the children perform, and perform well."

As Committeewoman Dorothy Avallone read the resolution that certified the reduced tax levy, she said, "We are here to serve the will of the people. The will of the people at that election was cutting the school budget. I read this resolution with much regret. We have done our cutting and we are not happy about it."