School Budget Plans Presented to Manalapan Township Committee

If the local 2011-2012 budgets are approved on April 27, the increased tax levy from Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District should be offset by a slight tax decrease from Freehold Regional High School District. This was the general conclusion following the presentations of the school districts at the Manalapan Township Committee meeting on Wednesday, April 13.

The discussion of the school budget was kept to a minimum, however. The governing body posed no questions concerning the tax levies to Manalapan-Englishtown’s Superintendent John J. Marciante Jr. and FRHSD’s Business Administrator Sean Boyce.

The lack of discussion may have been due to the fact that the Committee had asked the presenters to be brief, limiting their presentations to roughly five minutes.

“The financial crisis is continuing, and I think it is very difficult for districts to maintain the quality of education, and it requires efficiency and thinking in ways of trying to save money,” Dr. Marciante said.

This was Marciante's third time was presenting the proposed $77.2 million spending plan which calls for a tax levy of over $50.5 million, up to the 2 percent cap from last year.

Marciante reiterated that the budget retains efficiency while addressing the vast spending cuts from the state.

“We are a suburban district. It’s the local taxpayer who has maintained the function and performance of this town. So doing it under 2 percent is an accomplishment,” said Marciante.

Here is a brief recap of the proposed tax levy and its impact:

The Board of Education has approved a 1 cent increase, 90.9 cents/$100 of assessed value. The average home in Manalapan, $377,000, will see a tax increase of about $37.70.   

Previously, reporter Mark Rosman of the News Transcript discussed the tax impact with the district’s business administrator Veronica Wolf.  According to Wolf, the same homeowner (of a $377,000 home) will pay $3,426 in K-8 school taxes, up from $3,389 in 2010-11.

For Rosman’s full report, which includes various home values, click here.

“I know you guys have put in a lot of effort into this budget,” Mayor Andrew Lucas said, thanking the Manalapan-Englishtown administrators.  

Next, Boyce took the floor to discuss the Freehold Regional High School district.

“A school district budget, at its most fundamental level, is about balance. It’s balancing the desire or demand for quality with the price point that is affordable to the community,” Boyce said.

This year, Freehold Regional Board of Education decided to pass on the 2 percent increase on the levy for this year, so there is a flat general fund tax levy. According to the Daily Record, their budget, unanimously approved on March 28, is a $177.6 million spending plan. The general tax fund levy accounts for $115.6 million.

Boyce said that the total budget will increase about 1 percent, or roughly $1.7 million. He explained that all of that money is going to classroom instruction, which in total, increased by $4 million.

“Those dollars repurposed into classroom instruction because we recognize that’s where we’re going to get the greatest return on our investment,” said Boyce. Every other category of spending was reduced.

He explained that the Freehold Regional High School District encompasses eight communities and that the tax impacts are determined by property tax value and enrollment.

“Even though the levy is flat, no town is flat,” Boyce clarified.

The Daily Record also reported that FRHSD’s tax levy for Manalapan is 42.06 cents per $100 of assessed property value, down 1.18 cents. Again the average Manalapan homeowner ($377,000 home) would pay just over $44 less in annual taxes (according to the numbers, that’s $1585.66 for 2011-12 down from $1630.14 in 2010-2011).

During public comment, only two residents of Manalapan approached the microphone to discuss the school budget.

Resident Gloria Close reiterated a similar concern that she made at the March 29 public hearing on the school budget. Close does not understand why the Manalapan-Englishtown school district must go to cap on the tax levy when the student population has decreased by approximately 100 students.

Resident Deborah Smarth reiterated Close’s sentiments about more efficiency.

“Thank God for Governor Christie that he’s tried to bring some sense to government spending. Let’s hope he succeeds. And let’s hope the people of Manalapan go out once again and say once again, ‘We want to make sure our school district taxes are controlled,’” said Smarth.

She thanked Marciante for a “sharp” presentation and for cutting spending in some areas; however, like Close, she believes spending could be even less.

“We all live within our means and it’s now time for local government and our school districts, which take our tax dollars to provide services, to live within their means. The world hasn’t fallen apart,” Smarth said.

She also addressed Boyce, saying that the $1.7 million in instructional resources, while good for the students, should be offset when the country is still in one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression.

Later during public comment, Englishtown Councilwoman Jayne Carr took the floor.   

“As Ms. Close said, one cent on the K-8 is a hardship on Manalapan. Imagine the 5.2 cents that is proposed for Englishtown,” said Carr.

Carr said that she will wait to address more of her concerns at the Manalapan-Englishtown Board of Education, when the Superintendent will make a final pitch to the Englishtown Council meeting on April 25.

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