Tinton Falls Reviewing Defeated School Budget
By GARRETT STASSE
The Monmouth Regional School District is asking Tinton Falls to help resolve its budget impasse.
Eatontown and Shrewsbury Township rejected the school budget last month. Tinton Falls voters approved it but not by enough to keep it from failing by 42 votes. But now Tinton Falls is being asked to support lesser cuts than Eatontown has proposed.
School Superintendent Jamie Cleary asked the Borough Council on Tuesday to help convince the Eatontown Borough Council to soften its proposed $500,000 cut.
Tinton Falls students comprise 55 percent of enrollment. Eatontown has 45 percent and Shrewsbury Township the rest. Tinton Falls voters have approved 12 of the last 13 budgets while Shrewsbury Township voters have done the opposite. Cleary said political issues in Eatontown, where voters rejected the local school budget for the last three years, have spilled over into the Monmouth Regional situation.
All three towns have to approve the cuts or the budget heads to the state Education Department, which has a history of restoring cuts made by municipal governments.
The figure ($500,000) I think would disrupt educational programs, he said. We have had a reduction in federal impact aid and state aid and were not getting any more super aid because we dont have Fort Monmouth students anymore. But were caught up in the turmoil in Eatontown.
Cleary called the budget, which was scheduled to rise $500,000 mostly due to salaries and the loss of aid, conservative. Salaries are expected to decline by $114,000 next year.
He urged council to approve if Eatontown proposes something reasonable.
Cleary said the logjam has to be resolved by May 19 or the state decides. Council isnt scheduled to meet until the 20th. Council President Michael Skudera asked for more information on Eatontowns request before deciding if a special meeting might be needed.
Councilman Gary Baldwin said he tended to support the schools request but asked to see what Eatontown wants before deciding. Councilman Brendan Tobin said council should abide by borough voters wishes and support the spending plan.
Councilman Duane Morrill was blunter.
Maybe what Eatontown parents are willing to do without, our parents are not, he said.
In other business, Morrill said the Riverdale Trail will be christened at a ribbon cutting on May 26. There will also be a tour of the Crawford House and the Swimming River Preserve on East Riverdale Avenue on May 17. The public is welcome to both, he said.
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