Budget, with tax hike, gains OK from voters

D

espite the reality of a tax increase and publicly stated opposition from some members of the Allentown and Upper Freehold governing bodies, voters approved the Upper Freehold Regional School Dis-trict Board of Education’s 2000-01 budget in the April 18 election.

Voters approved the $17.2 million spending package by a count of 519 to 442. The budget carries 12-cent increase on the tax rate in Upper Freehold Township and a 22-cent increase on the tax rate in Allentown.

This marks the first time since 1995 that voters have approved the board’s budget in the annual school election.

The new budget will take the school tax rate to $1.88 per $100 of assessed property value in Allentown, bringing taxes to $2,820 for a $150,000 home. In Upper Freehold, the tax rate will be $1.79 per $100 of assessed value, bringing taxes to $3,580 for a $200,000 home.

School board member Bradley Barlow, re-elected in this year’s election, said he’s not surprised the budget was approved.

"It can be very difficult for the public to accept a large tax increase, but I think the public understood what we were up against," Barlow said.

Residents voted 562 to 396 against a ballot question that would have increased the tax rate by another 2 cents per $100. The question, placed on the ballot after a petition was submitted to the school board, asked residents if they wanted the district to purchase two school buses at a cost of about $95,000.

Had voters approved the buses, the purchase would have taken the budget beyond its allowed spending cap, something that can only be done with a public referendum.

The petitioners who asked for the question to be placed on the ballot said they were worried about a cost-saving tier busing system worked into the 2000-01 budget. The tier busing system, which does not require the immediate purchase of any new buses, staggers the starting times of schools in the district so the same buses can make additional trips.

Acting Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Vona said he believed tier busing was inevitable and would still occur soon even with the purchase of two new buses. However, he said the board had an obligation to place the question on the ballot because of the petition that was submitted and concerns voiced by some parents.

At a meeting between some members of the Upper Freehold Township Committee and the Allentown Borough Council earlier this month, representatives on the two governing bodies said they were against the budget and believed the ballot question was inappropriate.

While not all members of the governing bodies were present, those who were said they be-lieved there was a consensus among them. On the advice of legal counsel, they did not issue an official statement because they said it might be have been seen as a conflict had the budget failed and come before them for review.

Barlow said although some parents were worried tier busing would disrupt family schedules and the reliance younger siblings have on older ones who bus with them, he said a transition can be made smoothly.

"When you really look at the bottom line, the number it affects that way is minimal," he said.

Barlow said while he didn’t have a stand on the ballot question, the cost of adding the buses only to delay tier busing seemed difficult to justify.

"The dollars just kind of spoke for themselves," he said. "I think that’s what the public indicated also when they voted on it."