Freehold Borough BOE Adopts Tentative Budget

After numerous meetings and number crunching, the Freehold Borough BOE has adopted their tentative budget for the 2013-2014 school year. 

A presentation given by Freehold Borough Interim Business Administrator Jim Strimple filled in the gaps previously left from unknown state aid figures. On Friday, March 1, state aid numbers were provided to school districts and Freehold Borough learned that their state aid would increase this year.

While the state aid increase helped borough schools, it alone was not enough to allow schools to implement needed staff and materials without an increase in the tax levy.

“The tax levy is four-percent but with the additional funds we are able to give back about $89,000 in debit relief to borough residents so the net tax levy works out to 3.67-percent,” explained Annette Jordan, President of the Freehold Borough BOE. “With the increase in state aid and the increased tax levy we will be adding a fourth grade teacher. There will be no cuts in staff programs or activities. We will also be able to purchase computers to ready the students to take the state tests which will be given online starting in 2014.”

According to a pervious presentation given by Strimple, the next steps for the budget includes a submission of the proposed budget to the Executive County School Business Administrator on Thursday, March 7. Following the submission, there will be a public hearing and adoption of the budget on Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m. in the Park Avenue Elementary School Cafeteria.