District spending plan faces voters April 15.
By: Cynthia Koons
UPPER FREEHOLD The Upper Freehold school board approved its $23 million budget after a public hearing March 26, showing a 14-cent and 13-cent tax rate increase in Allentown and Upper Freehold, respectively.
The budget is subject to voter approval on April 15.
With 5 cents of the budget’s increases earmarked for construction debt payments, the remaining tax hike is attributed to the need for new teachers for the extra classrooms being built at the high school.
For Allentown homeowners with a home valued at the borough average of $150,000, the tax increase equates to $210 more in school taxes in the coming year, if voters approve the proposed $2.26 tax rate. In Upper Freehold where the average home is valued at $240,000, residents with a home at that value would see a $312 tax increase if voters approve the $2.06 rate there.
The public hearing was sparsely attended and only a few residents addressed the board about the proposed budget.
Upper Freehold resident Leonard Panzica expressed his discontent over the increasing tax bill.
"Where does the tax stop going up? Another field, another pool," he said. "You have a house and the taxes are rising and you can’t sell the house because the taxes are rising.
"We all love our children, but it’s got to stop somewhere stop building schools," he said. "If you can’t feed your child, or buy them a basketball, there are emotional problems in the household."
Superintendent Bob Connelly said the tax situation has worsened for residents in recent years because of the limited amount of state aid available for schools.
"The current system of freezing state aid and the shift to property taxes is dangerous," Dr. Connelly said.
But board President Lynn Meara said the tax situation should not compromise education.
"We have an obligation to maintain a high quality of education," she said.
Mr. Panzica suggested the board seek outside sources of funding to subsidize some of the school’s costs.
"Someone has to be creative and generate money so the public doesn’t have to pay," he said.
Board member Betty Jane Pepe said Upper Freehold is in a unique position because the town does not have commercial ratables that generate tax money for the district.
For working within these financial constraints, Allentown resident Robert Cheff said he commended the board for producing a fair budget for the taxpayers.
"I’d like to compliment the board and administration for keeping taxes in line with growth," he said. "The per pupil cost looks like it’s going up by 1 percent, but we’re not seeing an increase.
"I thought that was interesting that they were able to keep the ratios of students and taxes in line," he said.