Avon School Tax Rate to Rise 5 Cents Under Spending Plan
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Avon residents will see a five cent increase in the school tax rate under the budget proposed by the Board of Education.
The board has scheduled a special meeting for March 28 at 7 p.m. for a public hearing on the proposed spending plan. The budget was introduced at a special meeting March 13. The total amount of the general fund is $3,175,895 and includes a five cent increase. The final budget figures will depend on state aid figures which are set to be released this week.
The meeting will be combined with a regular meeting of the board.
The school board recently awarded a bond in the amount of $7,200,000 to Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. after an online bidding process that in the end lowered the expected interest rate on the bond to 4.25 percent.
The 30-year bond is the result of December’s referendum vote approving renovations to the existing school and a new three-story wing.
“The tax impact will be lower,” said Board Administrator Amy Lerner. Residents will pay about $12 lower.”
In related business, School Superintendent Helen Payne said the architect on the project informed her that a geo-technical study of the school and grounds will take place Sat., March 25.
Board President John Magrini reported that he has received many inquiries from construction management firms interested in overseeing the project. The decision on which firm to hire will be made in mid-April, he said.
The board also discussed whether or not to take out the existing oil tank in light of the fact that the new heating system will most likely be gas.
Some board members felt that filling it and putting a cap on it would work, but others felt it should be taken out completely. The cost of removal was not budgeted in the referendum and has not yet been determined.
Also Payne announced that this year’s eighth grade student achiever is Peter Calcagno. Peter will be honored at a special reception next month in Freehold with other student achievers from Monmouth County schools.
Payne also reported that students participating in the Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart fund raising activities raised more than $4,000 for the American Heart Association.
Also at the meeting the district agreed to accept three tuition students who will each pay $2,675 to attend Avon Elementary School next year. The students include a first grader from Interlaken, and two kindergarten students, one from Asbury Park and one from Neptune City.
Board Member David Calnan, who at a previous meeting reported visiting the Bayonne School district where solar panels had been installed, reported that grant money for clean energy is still available to school districts interested in solar energy.
“We can get three companies to come and look at our buildings,” he said. “The grants are given on a sliding scale depending on the wealth of the town.”
In other business, the board discussed whether or not they should comply with the recreation committee’s request to help supply new chairs for the municipal building.
The committee is planning to purchase 250 to 300 chairs at a total cost of about $10,000. The school frequently uses the building for student activities.
Board Member Robert Shafer said the board had already agreed to purchase new soccer goals and nets for use at the municipal center.
“We are already making a purchase,” he said.
Magrini agreed that members of the board should meet with the recreation committee to discuss the matter.
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