By Stephanie Vaccaro, Staff Writer
Several West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education members took issue at its meeting on Tuesday night that a decision to defer $1.5 million in tax relief offered by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration for the 2011-2012 year was made seemingly unilaterally by the president of the board of education for West Windsor-Plainsboro.
When the state announced increased aid for school districts two weeks ago, it did so with the intent that it would provide tax relief. Districts were given four options from which they could select.
”One was to use as immediate tax relief in the 2011-2012 year,” said Anthony Fleres, a board member. “There were a number of steps we would have to take to do that, which would include having a public meeting with a 48-hour notice, a number submissions to be made, and with all of this, the state gave us about three and a half business days. That time limit has passed.”
”The other options are that we could use it within this year’s budget, the 2011-2012 budget,” said Mr. Fleres. “We can budget the money for the 2012-2013 school year. If we do neither of those, we can use it as tax relief for the 2013-2014 school year.”
Hemant Marathe, board president, decided not to call a meeting of the board. In doing so, the option for the relief, totaling approximately $1.5 million, to be applicable immediately disappeared, leaving the latter three options which apply to coming years.
Board members Ellen Walsh and Todd Hochman raised concern regarding the president’s decision.”I think that was a decision that should have been made by the entire board,” said Ms. Walsh.”While I recognize the board president has the ability to decide to call or not call a meeting of the board, by not calling a meeting of the board during the appropriate time frame, the board cannot use that money for the current tax year,” said Mr. Hochman.Mr. Marathe defended his decision.”I didn’t simply make this decision on my own,” said Mr. Marathe.
He said he consulted the assistant superintendent, Larry Shanok, and two board members, the chair of the finance committee, Anthony Fleres, and Robert Johnson, all of whom felt it was not in the best interest of the district to act at that time.
