Sup’t. pleased with budget approval A
Borough voters approved the tax levy of $4.4 million to support an $11.85 million spending package by a count of 247 to 169 in the April 18 school election. The remaining $300,000 of the tax levy is for debt service and is not voted on by residents.
Five candidates for open seats on the board, four incumbents and one newcomer, will be sworn in at 8 p.m. May 1 during the board’s reorganization meeting in the Park Avenue Elemen-tary School library.
Of the borough’s 5,283 registered voters, 345 turned out to the polls for the April 18 election. This did not count absentee voters (approximately 70 votes).
The newcomer in the election, Peter DeFonzo, Birch Drive, running for the remaining two years of a three-year term, was the top vote-getter with 311 votes.
Incumbent, Lynne Coulson, Morris Street, running for an unexpired year of a three-year term, was next with 305 votes.
Incumbent Ron Reich, Hance Boulevard, running for a full three-year term, was elected with 296 votes.
Incumbents Theresa K. Hicks, Brookwood Drive, and Matthew J. Weismantel, Broad Street, were re-elected to three-year terms with 288 and 274 votes, respectively.
Kalafat said the approval of the budget gives the board the impetus to launch a three-year plan to improve the district’s buildings and grounds.
"We felt that we presented a very practical budget with no unnecessary frills," Kalafat said. "There was nothing fancy in our budget. The approval of the budget will allow us to continue the progress we have made in recent years. We will be able to continue the momentum we’ve had that began with the approval of a referendum in 1997 for funds to improve and add onto our three facilities."
The district includes the Freehold Intermediate School, the Freehold Learning Center elementary school and the Park Avenue Elementary School.

