Most voters face tax increases in school elections

by Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
   Corrected copy. The original version of this story incorrectly listed the employment of Plumsted canddiate Keith Buckalew.
   Allentown voters have something to smile about when they head to the polls Tuesday: they are the only residents in the Messenger-Press area poised to see a decrease in their school taxes rather than an increase.
   The Upper Freehold Regional School District has proposed a $36.8 million 2009-2010 budget that would lower the school tax rate in Allentown by about 7 cents, or an average $100 cut for a borough homeowner assessed at $153,300. The news, however, is not good for Upper Freehold residents who would see an average annual increase of $210, based on an assessment of $526,400 and a 4-cent increase in the rate.
   District Business Administrator Diana Schiraldi previously explained that the disparity has to do with how the state set up the tax ratios for both towns and noted that last year Allentown’s tax rate increase was higher than Upper Freehold’s.
   The UFRSD budget includes the hiring of three new teachers at the high school and one new teacher at the middle school.
   Robbinsville residents would also see a significant increase in their school taxes should they approve their district’s $38.6 million proposed budget. The financial plan would raise the school tax rate by close to 5 cents or an extra $189 for a homeowner assessed at $40,000. Last year, voters rejected a budget that would have raised the rate by 4 cents and wound up with a 3-cent hike after the Township Council made cuts.
   The total budget figure represents an annual increase of about $1.4 million and includes funding for 16 new full-time positions, including six new special education teachers, and five staff members’ hours increasing from part time to full time. The budget, meanwhile, carries the equivalent of two eliminated full-time positions.
   In Millstone, residents are faced with voting on a tax levy to support a $36.4 million budget that would raise the school tax rate by 11 cents, or $450 a year for an average taxpayer assessed at $408,000.
   In Plumsted, residents are looking at a proposed tax rate hike of about 2 cents, as they will vote on a tax levy to support a $25.7 million budget. That rate increase would translate into a $78 hike in the tax bill of an average homeowner assessed at $383,500.
   The budget, which represents an annual increase of about $856,000, includes funding for one new teacher and three aides along with the reinstatement of middle school sports.
The candidates
   In Robbinsville, where classroom space is a top issue, there are three candidates for three open seats: a longtime incumbent, a member appointed in the fall and a returning board veteran.
   Faith Silvestrov has served on the board 18 years and is currently its personnel chairwoman and a delegate to the Mercer County School Boards Association.
   Melissa Foy, an elementary school principal in another district who has lived in Robbinsville for five years and has a child in the local district, is seeking a full term to a seat she was appointed to in November.
   Florence Gang, the dean of faculty and a teacher at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, is running to fill a seat being vacated by Maxine Fox, who is not running. Ms. Gang has been gone from the board for five years after serving eight.
   In Upper Freehold, there is a race.
   While Edward Werner, of Allentown, is running uncontested for the seat held by William Borkowski, who is not running, three others are seeking two other spots. Incumbents Lisa Herzer, of Allentown, and Howard Krieger, of Cream Ridge, are seeking re-election and are being challenged by Steven Gagliardi, of Allentown. Mr. Gagliardi said he runs the northeast region for Bio-Rad Laboratories, a life sciences firm based in California. He has two children enrolled in the district.
   In Millstone, board President Thomas Foley and three newcomers are hoping to fill three full three-year terms, while Salvatore Casale eyes a two-year unexpired term.
   The newcomers are Amy Jacobson, of Clarksburg, a 39-year-old, stay-at-home mom with two of her four children in district schools; John Pearson, 65, of Perrineville, a semi-retired salesman who has lived in town for 35 years; and Patrick Whalen, 42, a Trenton attorney with one child in the district.
   Mr. Casale is a 39-year-old salesman of retail investment products and has two children attending classes in the district.
   The most crowded and contentious race is in Plumsted, where six people seek three seats on a board that is expanding from five to seven seats.
   Joanna Barlow, of New Egypt, has been on the board since April 2006 and has served as its president since May 2007. She is running on a ticket with Richard Roach and Robin Witkowski, both eight-year residents of New Egypt with children in the district.
   Also running are Keith Buckalew, Jon Hauge and Christopher Probasco, all of New Egypt.
   Mr. Buckalew, a lifelong resident, served on the board from 1994 to 2002 and works as director of buildings and grounds for the Millstone School District.
   Mr. Hauge, a 15-year resident with two children in the district, wrote in a letter to the editor that he has “senior-level management experience with both personnel and finance.” He has served as a local soccer coach and on the Environmental Commission.
   A 21-year New Egypt resident, Mr. Probasco has three children attending district schools. He has coached soccer, baseball, basketball and football locally, and has served on the Economic Development Committee. His work experience includes 26 years at IBM as a technician, systems engineer and in sales.
   Two letters to the editor supporting the Barlow slate had prompted close to 240 online comments as of Tuesday, many of them extremely negative.