Colts Neck voters OK school levy

BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer

COLTS NECK – Voters gave thumbs up to an $18.5 million tax levy that will support the Colts Neck K-8 School District’s 2008-09 budget.

The budget for the coming school year totals $22.8 million. The tax levy makes up the majority of the revenues that support the operation of most school districts in New Jersey.

According to information provided by the Colts Neck Board of Education, the tax levy was approved by a count of 697 yes votes to 670 no yes votes in the April 15 school election.

For candidates ran unopposed for seats on the Board of Education and were elected to office.Winning three-year terms were Karen Saltzbart (887 votes), Christine Gold (775 votes) and Eric Goldring (720 votes). Winning a one-year term was Amod Choudhary (934 votes).

With the approval of the tax levy for 2008-09, the Colts Neck K-8 school tax rate will rise from $1.378 to $1.393 per $100 of assessed valuation, according to Business Administrator John Paredes.

The increase in the tax rate means the owner of a home that is assessed at $400,000 will pay about $5,572 in K-8 school taxes in 2008-09, up from about $5,512 in 2007-08.

K-8 school taxes are one part of a property owner’s overall property tax bill. In addition to K-8 school taxes, the property tax bill includes municipal taxes, Freehold Regional High School District taxes,Monmouth County taxes and other assessments.

According to information about the budget that is posted on the school district’s Internet Web site, the 2008-09 budget will maintain current instructional programs; maintain current class sizes; maintain the choral music program at the Conover Road Elementary School; maintain late buses at Cedar Drive Middle School, fund the district’s technology plan, maintain intramural athletics and clubs and fund a social worker at the Cedar Drive Middle School.

The budget provides for the additional purchase of two buses, the reinstatement of field trips, additional buildings and grounds personnel and irrigation for the Conover Road Primary School’s future playground.

The budget eliminates six teaching positions due to decreasing enrollment, eliminates three paraprofessionals due to decreasing enrollment, eliminates three contracted bus routes and reduces the district’s reliance on contracted therapists, according to the information posted on the Web site.

The Colts Neck K-8 School District has an enrollment of about 1,333 pupils.