By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – The Freehold Township K-8 School District Board of Education has adopted a 2017-18 budget that will carry an $89 tax increase for the owner of a home assessed at the township average.
On April 25, following discussion among district administrators and board members, a $78.7 million budget was adopted.
The budget will be supported by a tax levy of $68.7 million to be paid by Freehold Township’s residential and commercial property owners. Taxpayers will fund 87.5 percent of the cost of operating the township’s schools.
Other revenue in the budget includes $4.26 million in state aid (5.4 percent) and $2.1 million from surplus funds.
The school district’s 2016-17 budget totaled $76.8 million and was supported by a tax levy of $66.6 million. The average home was assessed at $380,500, the school tax rate was $1.10 per $100 of assessed valuation and the owner of that home paid $4,185 in K-8 school taxes.
The school tax rate for 2017-18 will remain flat at $1.10, but the average home is now assessed at $388,600. The owner of that home will pay $4,274 in school taxes over the next 12 months – an increase of $89.
Board President Christopher Marion, Vice President Jason Levy and board members Michael Amoroso, Kay Poklemba-Holtz, Edward Hudak, Michelle Lambert, Elena O’Sullivan and Jennifer Patten voted to adopt the budget. Board member Daniel DiBlasio was absent.