$190.6M budget to go to voters
For Toms River schools

Asbury Park Press - March 26, 2008

TOMS RIVER -- The Toms River Regional district's ways of finding other revenue sources has helped limit tax increases in South Toms River and Beachwood and avoid them altogether in Toms River and Pine Beach, officials said Tuesday night in adopting the 2008-09 school budget.

"Alternative funding sources like our solar project allows us to pass monies on to the taxpayers," said Michael A. Jedziniak, Board of Education president, at a public hearing on the proposed $190.6 million budget.

On April 15, voters will have the opportunity to approve a tax levy of $111.6 million in support of the budget. The packed room applauded Michael J. Ritacco, superintendent of schools, following his explanation of the budget. Ritacco noted that no programs or staff were being cut.

"Our revenue has increased with $1.4 million in additional state aid, $1.2 million in increased surplus allocated to the budget, and approximately $1 million from the sale of solar renewable energy credits," Ritacco said.

In addition, money from alternative funding sources includes rent for use of the Poland Spring Arena adjacent to High School North and Bennett Athletic Complex on Hooper Avenue; rent from non-district businesses at its administrative building on Hooper Avenue; and revenue from Cafe 1144, the restaurant the district runs at its administration building.

Those funds have allowed the district to obtain needed items in previous years, such as school buses, Ritacco said.

Ritacco also said that the budget will provide for adopting new science textbooks for grades 6 through 8, a second-year initiative in providing geometry textbooks, and continued expansion of Study Island, a Web-based program in which students can prepare for exams. Study Island is in use in the district's elementary and intermediate schools. Also, an advanced placement environmental science class will be offered at all three high schools.

The budget would provide $300,000 to replace tile and carpet at high schools North and South and the Hooper Avenue, North Dover, South Toms River and Walnut Street elementary schools.

Keeping expenses down

"Every year we work hard to keep expenses down," Ritacco said. "The recent comparative (state) spending report listed Toms River Regional as having the second lowest total per pupil cost and the sixth lowest in total administrative costs. In 1992, we employed 96 administrators. We have opened two additional schools since then and now employ 76 administrators."

Under the proposed budget, Toms River property owners would see no change in the school tax rate of $1.57 per $100 of assessed property value. The owner of a home assessed at approximately at $138,800, the township average, will pay about $2,179 for the year in school taxes.

For South Toms River, the tax rate would increase by 2.5 cents, to 60.7 cents per $100 of assessed value. The owner of a home assessed at $215,200, the borough average, would pay an additional $53.80 in annual school taxes.

The school tax rate in Beachwood would increase by 1.4 cents, to 60.4 cents per $100 of assessed value. An assessment for an average home in Beachwood was not available, but the owner of a home assessed at $200,000 would pay $28 more annually in school taxes.

In Pine Beach, the school tax rate would decrease 1 cent, to 62 cents per $100 of assessed value. The owner of a home assessed at $324,500, the borough average, would pay $32.45 less annually in school taxes.

The nine-member school board voted to adopt the budget. The district will make the budget available on the Web.

-- Hartriono B. Sastrowardoyo

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