WARETOWN – The Ocean Township Board of Education narrowly approved a tentative 2024-2025 school year budget at its latest meeting in a 3-2 vote.
The plan includes a one-time 9.99 percent increase in the tax levy, incorporating a previously approved 3.76 percent hike. Notably, the local district does not record its school board meetings, making them unavailable for review.
Ariane Phillips, Chief School Administrator and Principal of Frederic A. Priff School, provided information regarding the budget and justification for the increase.
New Jersey schools receive funding from local property taxes, state aid, and nominal federal aid. However, a 2018 law known as S2 amended the state school funding formula, resulting in cuts to many districts. Over the past six years, Ocean Township Schools have faced significant reductions in state aid, totaling roughly $5.3 million compared to 2017-2018.
A state law previously limited school districts to a two percent increase in local property taxes for budget purposes without seeking voter approval. In 2022, Ocean Township narrowly passed a referendum requiring taxpayers to fund an additional $840,000. This amount was said to be necessary to retain eight classroom teachers and maintain current classroom sizes.
“This is not something that is going to happen every year,” reassured Dr. Christopher Lommerin, the Superintendent of Schools at the time. “I believe we are set for another five years.”
New Jersey schools received some financial relief with a law signed by Governor Phil Murph on May 14. One part of the legislation included a Stabilization School Budget Aid Grant Program, which appropriated the school district $29,288.
The new law also allows districts to raise taxes by up to 9.99 percent to compensate for reductions in state aid experienced under the S-2 school funding formula. Ocean Township’s new tentative budget reflects its intentions to take advantage of the one-time opportunity to generate additional revenue through the total allowable percentage.
Dr. Shawn Denning, who attended the June 10 meeting and served as school board president for several years, addressed the board, reminding them that three current members were on the board when the 2022 referendum was passed. At that time, they assured voters there would be no “bait and switch” by asking for an eight percent increase then and subsequently requesting substantially more within a short period.
“To do a good job, you have to have trust because this won’t be the last time that the district will need money,” Denning reminded them. “It’s not the last time there will be a request for a bond, a new air conditioning unit, upgrading the windows, upgrading something.”
Denning added that if the board members approved the full 9.9 percent tax increase upfront, they should commit to not raising taxes for the next three years “unless there’s an extraordinary need.” He added that any surplus funds generated by the tax increase should be applied to bank cap.
Positions and Programs Impacted
Over the last several years, the decrease in state aid has resulted in numerous cuts, including a reduction in administrative positions, teachers, and educational programs. Among the positions eliminated was that of a full-time superintendent. Dr. Christopher Lommerin retired at the end of last year with a salary of $162,000 amid the district’s financial challenges.
Lommerin declined salary increases that could have affected his pension and he gave back sick days to save the district money and did not take health benefits.
Phillips replaced Lommerin, serving in a dual capacity as Chief School Administrator and Principal of Frederic A. Priff School. Her salary for the 2024-2025 school year was approved at $144,200 and essentially eliminates the cost of a separate principal for one of the district’s two schools.
In the past six years, the district’s budget costs have resulted in staff reduction through attrition and layoffs. These include losing seven classroom teachers, three basic skills teachers, three special education teachers, a reading specialist, a gifted and talented teacher, two media assistants, 1.5 custodians, and outsourcing of cafeteria staff.
Phillips said the cuts have also forced the elimination of valuable educational programs. She added that any increase above the current levy will allow the district to restore essential programs and initiatives, support educational needs, and improve student achievement in literacy, math, and science.
“The funding will help maintain current class sizes and provide academic support for struggling learners and meet state requirements for multilingual and foreign language instruction, as well as inflationary costs in current and future budget cycles,” Phillips told The Southern Ocean Times.
Phillips added, “the increase will cover the rising costs of out-of-district special education placements ($232,347 in tuition and over $60,000 in transportation costs and the hiring of an additional special education teacher required by law, which emerged after the initial 2024-2025 budget was set.”
Also approved during the meeting was the contract of Kevin Byrnes as Business Administrator/Board Secretary, effective July 1, through June 30, 2025, with a salary of $128,750. As a full-time employee, Byrnes receives additional benefits that increase his overall compensation. His predecessor, Steve Terhune, served in the same capacity on a part-time basis, earning less than half the salary and without receiving district benefits.
Tentative Budget and Tax Levy Not Yet Approved
The budget process requires the New Jersey Department of Education to review and approve the tentative budget. Additional changes may be made based on their review before the public hearing. Once approved by the NJDOE, the tentative budget will be advertised and the Board will vote on the final budget.
A workshop meeting has been scheduled for July 2 to review and discuss the tentative budget ahead of the public hearing. “The Board has not yet made a final decision on the school tax levy increase,” Phillips said. “It would be remiss to not consider the very best for our students.”
According to figures provided by the district, the proposed 9.99 percent increase in the school tax levy would mean an average impact of $289.23 per home annually, or approximately $24.10 per month, compared to the previous year. It is unclear what numbers the district used to determine an average home value and whether it is based on new assessments.
Taxpayers, already grappling with higher tax bills due to new assessments from the municipality and county, have overwhelmingly expressed disbelief and outrage at the school district’s plans.
“I personally went out and encouraged people to vote for the referendum in 2022,” said Greenbriar resident Pat Kennedy. “I see a 17.9 percent increase since then as nothing more than a money grab.”
Township Officials Call for School Regionalization Efficiency Study
Mayor Lydia Dodd expressed opposition to the proposed 9.99 percent tax increase without voter approval. She cited concerns about the substantial financial strain the increase would impose on taxpayers.
Dodd called the move “yet another temporary fix” and referenced the $840,000 referendum that the school board said would be one time only and was added to tax bills.
“They said they would not go back to the taxpayers for additional funding. Now, one year later, there is a possibility the school board might ask for another one-time increase of 9.9 percent -which again would be forever. I am asking them to please consider the taxpayer burden,” the mayor said.
The Township Committee passed a resolution at its June 18 meeting stating that the school taxes are becoming unduly burdensome to local taxpayers, especially because the district is a K-6 school district.
The resolution requests that the State Department of Community Affairs allow the Township to undertake the School Regionalization Efficiency Program immediately and not have to wait until the next fiscal year.
Dodd said, “the Township Committee is requesting the school to apply for the grant funding available for the School Regionalization Efficiency Program. This program supports public school districts and governing bodies who wish to study the feasibility of school district regionalization and consolidation.”
“This is a feasibility study,” Dodd emphasized. “It does not mean the school district will be forced to regionalize but it would give all residents the opportunity to review the study to make an informed decision.”
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