BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer
Voters in the Monmouth Regional High School District will vote on a tax levy of $18,427,809 to support the 2007-08 proposed spending plan, a 4 percent increase over last year.
The total spending plan of $25.4 million, is up 1.5 percent over last year’s budget total of $25.3.
The regional school district comprises three towns. Eatontown’s share is 43.5 percent, Tinton Falls is 54.8 percent and Shrewsbury Township is 1.024 percent. That means that a house in Eatontown valued at $200,000 will see an increase of 0.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, or $47.80 annually; Tinton Falls will see an increase of 0.3 cents or $54.90 a year; and Shrewsbury Township will see a 0.14-cent increase, or $286.40 annually.
Maria Anne Parry, the school’s business administrator, said the adjustment is because of the percentage share.
The percentage share for Shrewsbury Township went up and Tinton Falls and Eatontown went down over last year, Parry said.
She explained that the school district is still living with very difficult state restraints because of the funding formula for education.
“We’re also dealing with the loss of federal impact aid because Fort Monmouth is closing,” she said.
The school services about 150 students who live on and off post. They also serve students from Naval Weapons Station Earle.
Schools Superintendent James Cleary said they are making every effort to continue to provide exceptional programs that meet the core content standards, as well as providing an extracurricular agenda so students will continue to get the best education.
Among the facility improvements for the 2007-08 academic year are new carpeting, repainting the Performing Arts Center, and new and renovated bathrooms in various areas. In addition, the offices of the principal, nurse and guidance counselors will be renovated, some new roofs will be installed and two new school buses will be purchased.
Parry said, “It is a very solid budget.”
Last year, Monmouth Regional’s spending plan was considered solid but it was soundly defeated. Many administrators felt that it was because spring vacation coincided with Election Day and people who generally support the budget were on vacation.
Counting absentee votes, Eatontown votes totaled 215 for the budget and 371 against. The Tinton Falls vote was closer, with 477 yes votes and 493 no votes. Shrewsbury Township votes totaled 29 yes and 48 no with a grand total of 721 votes for the budget and 912 against with an overall total of 1,633 votes cast.
Last year, school board officials said the problem of school closing and vacations would not happen again. Parry said school will be in session this year when voting is held.
There is no contest for seats on the Monmouth Regional School District’s Board of Education, which includes Tinton Falls, Eatontown and Shrewsbury Township.
There are three, three-year seats and three candidates for the nine-member board, one Eatontown seat and two for Tinton Falls.
The Monmouth Regional Board of Education includes four Eatontown seats, four Tinton Falls seats and one Shrewsbury Township seat.
All the candidates are incumbents. John Schiels lives on Copperfield Court in Eatontown. Thomas Neff lives on Penn Court and Tony Schaible lives on Rutgers Drive, both in Tinton Falls.
Board of Education elections and budget vote will be held on April 17 between 3-9 p.m. at various locations in all three districts.