Board of Education Votes to Raise Taxes for 2011-12 School Year

Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School Board of Education approved a preliminary budget of $77.2 million for the 2011-12 school year during their meeting Tuesday at Wemrock Brook School. The Board voted to increase the school tax rate by 2 percent, the maximum cap permitted by state law, which will raise over $50 million in general funds.

“The Governor has decided that due to increased revenue, to give each district one percent back of that cut,” said Superintendent John J. Marciante, Jr. “That was equal to an additional $710,938 in state aid that we did not anticipate.” He had expected flat funding.

As a result, Marciante, Assistant Superintendent Joanne Monroe, and MERSD Business Administrator and Board Secretary Veronica Wolfe decided that the money should be used to undo some of last year’s cuts. 

Marciante recommends the suspension of all extracurricular and music lesson fees, hiring three elementary teachers to reduce class size back to previous numbers, hiring three counselors to reinstitute that program at elementary schools in the district, and textbook adoptions that were postponed.

“At this time I am strongly recommending that the Board consider this recommendation, and I do believe it will be viewed extremely popularly in the community as we try to return to the level of instruction and support that we had before we had to deal with the cuts last year,” said Marciante. He believes the recommendations will help the district pass the budget.

Marciante said it is “extremely important” to spend up to cap for the long range planning of the district; however, not all the Board members shared that view.

Board Vice-President Joseph DePasquale would like to reconsider line items and give money back to taxpayers. He believes that is what will help get the budget passed.

According to a report by Mark Rosman of The News Transcript, nearly $1 million in additional tax money will be raised compared to last year. If approved, the budget itself will have increased over $456,000.

Rosman conversed with Wolfe who explained that the tax rate in Manalapan will increase 1 cent, from 89.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 90.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.  The tax rate in Englishtown will increase 5.2 cents, from 81.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 86.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The article also outlines the impact of the levy and how it breaks down per household.

“In the old days, I would say, if you had some extra money, I agree with you - give it back to the taxpayer. Because two years from now, if you needed some extra money, you can ask the taxpayer. You no longer can do that,” said Marciante in response to DePasquale. “It is financially shortsighted and not planning for the future to not go to cap.”

The Board tried to provide the average increase in taxes per household, providing a range from $37 to $42.

Marciante said that the 2 percent tax levy accounts for 68 percent of the district’s funding. The district receives state funding for the remainder, and the state has been unreliable in recent times. He also pointed out that taxpayers can still vote down a budget, even if you reimburse them. He compared not spending the cap to digging a deep hole.

“What you lose grows year after year,” said Board Secretary Veronica Wolfe, agreeing with Marciante.

Wolfe entered the meeting with the goal of getting a tentative budget passed, so she can present it to the County Office on Friday. She said that there is always room to shift the budget’s focus.

Board Member Lori Semel agreed with the tax levy but took some issue with the line items.  

“I’m the type of person that likes to save money for a rainy day just in case there are issues with the buildings, roofs, et cetera. Of all of these five items listed, the thing that’s most important to me is hiring the three elementary counselors. In these times between job loss, death, divorce, I think that counselors would benefit all the students,” said Semel.

Board member Michele Stipelman said that overall, the increase is reasonable. “I’m thrilled with a 1 cent increase,” said Stipelman, comparing it to ordering water over a period of time when you go out dinner; she was careful to say “if you can afford to go out to dinner”.

“You hit the nail on the head. If they can afford to go to dinner. That $40 could be someone’s dinner for a week. So who am I to judge that person?” asked DePasquale who remained against the tax levy.

Board Member James Mumolie gave his full support to Marciante and Munroe, stating that everyone will need to “dig in their pockets” to provide a good education to the children in the district.

Mumolie also sounded off on Trenton, criticizing state politicians for broken promises in funding.  

Board President Donna Formoso and Diane Bindler said that they fully agreed with Mumolie's comments. Formoso says that the 2 percent tax levy is necessary and might prevent crisis in the future, should state funding experience another cut.

On the vote, DePasquale was the ony member to vote “no” to adoption of the tentative budget and the tax levy.

Board Members Brian Graime and Valerie Maglione were absent for the meeting.

The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for March 29, 2011 at Wemrock Brook School.

Residents will vote on the proposed tax levy and the budget during the school elections on April 27.