By: Rebecca Weltmann
UPPER FREEHOLD The Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education held its budget hearing March 28 and with barely a quorum voted unanimously to approve the 2007-08 budget of about $29.4 million, up from last year’s $27.5 million.
Interim Superintendent Robert Smith called the budget a "good news budget."
The good news, he said, is that the tax increase is expected to be lower than the original preliminary budget plan. In Allentown, the original budget called for a tax rate increase of about 5.8 cents per $100 of assessed value. Instead, Business Administrator Viola Yosifan said Allentown was expected to face a tax increase of about 4.9 cents. This means the average homeowner would see an increase of about $75 instead of the anticipated $89. The school tax rate would be $2.59 after the new increase. The average home in Allentown is assessed at $154,000, so if the budget passes, taxpayers owning a house at that assessment would face a tax bill of $3,988. .
In Upper Freehold, the original budget called for a tax rate increase of about 4.1 cents per $100 of assessed value with an actual increase of about $211. The revised budget states taxpayers could face an increase of about 3.6 cents per $100 of assessed value, which means that the taxpayers would see an overall increase of about $189 per year. The new school tax rate would drop from $1.23 to $1.19 and with the average home in Upper Freehold assessed at $519,800, taxpayers would face a school tax of about $6,185.
The $16.5 million tax levy that voters will face on the April 17 ballot is about $1 million higher than last year.
The tax impact is different in the two communities because of a state mandated equalization formula based on the amount of taxable property in each community.
According to Dr. Smith, the proposed budget for the 2007-08 school year is very feasible and covers dozens of areas that will better the education for the students.
"We have increased state aid and a lower tax rate increase than we did for the current year," Dr. Smith said. We’re able to do things to improve the quality of the education without having to go to second questions on the budget like we did last year. Everything fits and to me, that is good news."
Although the budget hearing was lacking of a public except for two individuals, Dr. Smith said he was not concerned because of the myriad of presentations the board is doing to educate the public about the budget.
Board member Elizabeth Trent also said she was excited about the new budget and the addition of supervisors that the budget calls for.
"The supervisors will be part-time teachers as well, and they’ll be able to supervise in the areas of math and English," she said. "They’ll be able to connect with local colleges and universities and help our students. In this day and age, it’s almost unheard of that a high school doesn’t have supervisors. We used to, but due to budget cuts, we took them out. Now we can bring them back in. That was one of our goals and I think that will bring more improved services to our students."
Voters will be able to vote at the school elections April 17. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. In addition to voting on the budget, voters will also be able to vote on school board member elections and a referendum to seek additional funding for the middle school project, slated for Breza Road.
