Proposals vary from 4 tax cut to 83-cent hike

BY BRIAN DONAHUE
Staff Writer

Residents of Middlesex County will have plenty to choose from when they vote in the April 18 school elections, with crowded contests in some Board of Education races and school budgets that, in most cases, carry tax increases.

In the area covered by the East Brunswick Sentinel, the largest school tax rate increase stands at 83 cents, as is proposed in Helmetta. Only one school district, Jamesburg, has presented a budget for 2006-07 that will result in a tax decrease.

Brought about by a debt refinancing and an increase in federal aid, Jamesburg's $10.9 million budget includes a 4-cent decrease in the school tax rate, bringing it to $2.728 per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of the average home would realize savings of $48 in next year's school taxes.

Running for the three available three-year terms on the Jamesburg Board of Education are incumbents James Eldridge and Anne Toth. Resident Darren Larsen is seeking election as a write-in. Incumbent Sherry Theinert did not seek re-election.

Helmetta's $4 million school budget carries what amounts to an average increase of $595 for borough taxpayers. The proposed school tax rate of $4.83 would bring school taxes to $3,465 on the average home next year. The budget went up $600,000 due to increased transportation and tuition costs.

Helmetta Board of Education President Joann Carroll is seeking re-election to the three-member board. She is running unopposed.

In South River, the $24.55 million school budget would raise the tax rate by 28 cents, or $230 on the average home, an increase of 4.3 percent. The budget, dealing with increasing operating expenses and flat state aid, maintains current programs and adds four new teaching positions to reduce overcrowding in seventh- and eighth-grade classrooms.

There is no contest for three school board seats in South River, as incumbents Karl F. Haider, Peggy Marino and Andreas Miller were the only ones to file for candidacy.

East Brunswick residents will vote on a $122.2 million budget that is up 5.7 percent. The budget, excluding debt service, brings a tax rate hike of 21.1 cents, or $211 increase for property assessed at $100,000. The increase is largely the result of rising fuel and electric costs, and contractual increases for salaries and benefits. Three new teaching positions are proposed for the creation of a ninth period at the high school, and two half-time teaching positions are planned for music and art in the lower grades. The budget also includes system repair or replacements at some schools.

Four seats are available on the East Brunswick Board of Education. Running for the three full terms are incumbents Vicki Becker, Dr. Susan Karp and Meredith Shaw, along with newcomer Jack Levitt. A two-year unexpired seat is being sought by resident Terence Blackwell Jr.

Milltown is proposing a 20.5-cent tax rate increase in its $12.4 million budget for the next school year. This means school taxes would rise by $339 on the average home. Increasing fixed costs and state-mandated programs brought about the budget increase, and school officials have cut several after-school programs at the middle school in order to avoid a higher tax hike.

There is a six-way race for three seats on the Milltown Board of Education, with incumbents Henry "Hank" Ruehl and William Petscavage running, along with Linda Harold, Salvatore Abano, Alexis Harley and Anna Proleika.

In Spotswood, residents will vote on a $21.7 million budget that would raise the tax rate by 10 cents, or $252 on the average home. The board has cut the high school's auto program, reduced a culinary arts teaching position, and will not rehire five instructional aides. Driving the budget increase are costs for salaries and benefits, energy and utility costs, and out-of-district special education placements.

Spotswood Board of Education incumbents Alan Bartlett and Richard O'Brien, currently the board president and vice president, respectively, are running unopposed for re-election.

Monroe residents will be asked to support a general fund budget of $70.8 million that creates the equivalent of about 62 new staff positions in a variety of areas. The district anticipates enrollment to rise by 350 students next year. Voters will also decide on a second ballot question that would add a total of 24 portable classrooms at a cost of nearly $2 million. The two budget questions each propose a tax rate increase of .0295 cents, for a total of .059 cents. For the owner of property assessed at $168,100, this amounts to an increase of $99 in annual school taxes.

There is a nine-way race for three seats on the Monroe Board of Education. Incumbents Marvin Braverman, John Leary and Harold Pollack are Brian Hackett, Gerald Krzyzkowski, Michele Magaraci, Rita Ostrager, Ira Tessler and Linda Torres.