BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
The Oceanport School District spending plan was rejected by voters last week by a margin of less than 100 votes.
The proposed $7.8 million budget, which called for a tax levy of roughly $6.6 million, was voted down at the polls on April 18 with 340 residents voting against it and 257 voting in favor of it.
The school budget in Oceanport has been approved by borough voters for the last 20 years, with the exception of the 2004-05 fiscal year, according to Superintendent of Schools James DiGiovanna.
The Borough Council has until May 19 to review the spending plan. The council is not required to make any changes on the budget; though it can, if it chooses, reduce or even increase the amount of money the district plans to spend and raise through taxes.
If the school board believes the changes the council has made would too severely affect district operations, they may appeal the council’s decision to the state commissioner of education, who would have the last word on any revisions.
Three candidates ran in an uncontested race for three open seats on the Board of Education. Incumbents Mary T. Sharkey and Kelly McGowan received 415 votes and 416 votes, respectively, and newcomer Cathy DiFede received 384 votes.
In Fair Haven, borough voters approved a school district spending plan of $10.1 million with 423 residents voting in favor of the budget and 358 residents voting against it.
The budget, with a tax levy of $9.3 million, calls for a 4.1-cent per $100 of assessed property value increase.
Also at the polls, four candidates were vying for three open seats on the Board of Education and newcomer Katy Frissora received the most votes with 508 residents electing her to a board seat.
Incumbents Margaret Graf and Andrea Bakst were also re-elected to serve on the board, receiving 431 and 396 votes respectively. Newcomer Jeffrey Spector received 326 votes.