Budget, candidates await
voters’ April 16 decision
MARLBORO — On April 16, voters will head to the polls to decide on the 2002-03 school year budget and three Board of Education seats.
The K-8 school district’s 2002-03 budget includes a 12.6-cent increase in the local school tax rate. That rate represents a rise from $1.47 to $1.59 per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at $200,000 will pay about $3,180 in local school taxes in 2002-03, up from $2,940 in 2001-02. The owner of a home assessed at $300,000 will pay about $4,770 in local school taxes in 2002-03, up from $4,410 in 2001-02.
The budget, adopted by the board on March 25, totals $58.1 million. This figure includes $52.2 million in the general fund, $4.8 million in debt service and $1 million in special revenues.
The budget will cover the cost of hiring more than 30 faculty members to staff the middle school which is scheduled to open in January 2003. The school is under construction on Nolan Road. The figure also includes the hiring of three new Spanish teachers, six new bus drivers, increased salaries and benefits, and installing 75 computers and 85 printers in the district’s schools.
If the budget is defeated by voters it will be sent to the Township Council for review. The municipal governing body can recommend cuts to the budget (which the school board may accept or appeal) or leave the budget as the school board proposed it.
According to figures provided by the board, fixed expenditures such as salaries, benefits and utilities will make up more than $46 million, or 89 percent, of the $52 million general fund. Those expenses cannot be reduced, board members said.
Marlboro school taxes are one portion of a property owner’s tax bill. Other taxes include Marlboro municipal taxes, Freehold Regional High School District taxes, Monmouth County taxes, a fire district tax and several other assessments.
Five candidates are running for three three-year seats on the board. The seats on the school board are unpaid positions.
Elaine Brickman said she is running to protect liberal arts classes and to ensure small class sizes. Brickman, a former school nurse in Windsor, Conn., has lived in Marlboro since June 2000.
Cris Gansman has pledged to apply his financial background toward keeping taxes low. The benefits consultant has lived in Marlboro for 12 years. In the 2001 race for a seat on the school board, Gansman lost by two votes.
Incumbent Cynthia Green, who is the board’s current vice president, is a former French and Spanish teacher running for her fifth consecutive term. Green, a Marlboro resident since 1979, has said that preparing for future enrollment increases will be a key challenge to address, if re-elected.
Murray Hoffman, also an incumbent, said he will continue to examine each budget for cost-saving measures, if re-elected. The retired New York City school teacher and administrator has lived in Marlboro for 13 years and seeks his fourth consecutive term.
Mark Orenzow, a former board member, has said he would use his background to review and develop the district’s budgets for potential savings. Orenzow, a certified public accountant and internal audit manager, has lived in Marlboro for nine years. In 2001, he lost a bid for re-election as an incumbent.
Polling hours will be from noon to 9 p.m. in Marlboro. Residents who are not sure of their voting location may call the Monmouth County Board of Elections, (732) 431-7790.