Holmdel board approves $47.9M school budget

HOLMDEL - The township school district is looking for a three-peat in its quest to pass this year's school budget.

The $47.9 million budget was formally adopted at a March 28 public hearing. Voters will head to the polls on April 17 to decide on the local tax levy for the general fund, which is proposed at $44,387,036, and includes a little over $3 million in debt service.

If passed, the tax rate would rise 3.9 cents to 96 cents per $100 of assessed property value, meaning the owner of a home assessed at $736,795, which is the township's average, would pay a total of $7,073 in school taxes. If the budget is approved, the owner of such a home would pay an increase in taxes of $287 for the 2007-08 school year.

"There is optimism in this district as far as the budget goes," Business Administrator/Board Secretary Michael said. "We have a commitment to excellence around here and this is a very critical year in this district. We need to address our technology plan, which was something that we couldn't do within our budget."

The district is asking voters to approve $1,944,342 in a second ballot question, which would allow for new teachers to be hired, in an effort to reduce overcrowding and improve technology within the district. If the second question and the regular budget are passed, then school taxes would go up an extra $22 to $309 for the owner of a home assessed at $736,795.

"Our ultimate goal is to not have to lay anybody off," Petrizzo said. "This has definitely been a collaborative effort and we're proud of what we have come up with. This is a very lean and efficient budget. Our board has been very involved from day one. This has truly been a team effort."

This year's total budget would rise $2,009,578, a 4.4 percent increase from last year, when the budget passed by 211 votes. In the 2005-06 election, the budget passed by a count of 1,678 to 1,168.

- Dan Newman