Schools
April 27 Election Asks Residents to Vote on School Budget, BOE Candidates
Polls are open from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 27
Residents will have the opportunity to vote on school budgets and board of education candidates when polls open throughout the state, including in Manchester, on April 27.
From 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., registered Manchester voters can vote on the 2011-12 budget, a plan that would increase property taxes $54 per year — based on the average assessed home value of $194,100 — while also maintaining school staff and programs.
Manchester schools' , calls for a local tax levy of $38,695,101. The general fund revenue as introduced is $46,364,752.
Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"Our tentative budget reflects an increase of 2.7 cents per $100 of assessed value," said Craig Lorentzen, business administrator and Manchester Board of Education secretary last month. "The cost to the average household is $53.82 for the year or just under $4.50 per month in school tax," per each $100 of assessed value.
The 2010-11 local tax levy was introduced by the school board at $37,634,507, according to a district budget document. But that budget was defeated by voters last April and further cuts were made; the the general fund tax levy for the current school year ended up as $37,489,885, Lorentzen said.
Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to a district budget document, Manchester schools receive 81.6 percent of funding from local taxpayers, as the state provides 9.8 percent of funding, or $4,795,164. Federal and "other" sources make up the remaining 8.6 percent of the funding.
State funding was up $453,145 compared to 2010-11, an increase Lorentzen said was "unexpected."
"Once we heard aid was going to be increased to school districts in the governor's address, our thoughts were we would remain at flat funding or receive a slight increase," he said in an email in February.
, the current proposed budget will allow for staff and programs to remain stable, as well as continue to maintain school safety and security.
Manchester Board Candidates Running Unopposed
Three Manchester Board of Education members' seats are up for grabs and have declared that they will run for the positions.
According to the Office of the Ocean County Clerk, the terms of three members are set to expire this year: Board President Mary Walter of Whiting, who has served since 1996, and Board Member Steve Placido of Manchester, elected in 1995, will run for re-election.
Board member Gary Rhodes, who has served on the board since 1996, will not seek another term, said Craig Lorentzen, business administrator and board secretary for Manchester schools.
Jennifer Hudak of Manchester, who has never held a school board position in the district, has filed her candidacy.
, and have all completed questionnaires distributed by Manchester Patch in March. Walter has announced from her role as board president when the body reorganizes in May.
Polling Locations
Manchester has 39 polling districts, according to township clerk Sabina Skibo. An additional district will be added beginning in June's primary elections.
Registered voters should have received a sample ballot with their polling location in the mail. A PDF document in the media section of this article also includes the list of polling locations by district.
Lakehurst Tax Levy Stable
The Lakehurst school district will receive $5,829,983 in state aid for the 2011-12 school year, an increase of $84, 379 over the previous school year, according to state data.
The school tax levy for Lakehurst residents should the proposed 2011-12 tentative school budget be adopted, said Barry Parliman, business administrator and board secretary for Lakehurst schools. He said that the levy has remained stable since 2009.
Parliman said that the total school budget is expected to be $8,822,165, and of that $1,146,791 will come from taxes.
He also noted that $1,048,776 is the local tax levy amount that will appear on the ballot, since the $98,015 in the Debt Service Fund has already been approved by the borough.
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