By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
FARMINGDALE – The Farmingdale Board of Education is expected to ask residents to approve $4.6 million worth of renovations at the Farmingdale Public School in a special election later this year.
Business Administrator Karen Minutolo said that the cost of the facilities project will be financed through the issuance of bonds if voters approve the plans.
The Spiezle Architectural Group has been authorized by the board to submit plans to the state Department of Education for review and approval of the projects the board wants to undertake.
Minutolo said the projects are the conversion of administrative space to classroom space; the creation of new administrative space; heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement for the school; renovations to restrooms; and the replacement of doors at the school.
Dates on which school referendums may be held are established by the state. The remaining dates in 2017 are in September and December.
During a meeting on April 26, the board adopted a $2.95 million budget to fund the operation of the school from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
The budget will be supported in part by the collection of $1.91 million in taxes from the borough’s residential and commercial property owners. Officials will use $159,767 from surplus funds (savings) and will receive $784,929 in state aid, according to the board.
The owner of a home assessed at the borough average of $300,118 will pay an increase of about $126 in their K-8 school taxes in 2017-18, Minutolo said.
Property owners also pay Farmingdale municipal taxes, Freehold Regional High School District taxes and Monmouth County taxes.
The Farmingdale Public School has an enrollment of about 190 pupils, according to the board.