Baldwin, along with all other Loch Arbour residents, just received a huge increase in their local school tax bill.

“It’s just ironic that both my husband and I were teachers and now we are being forced out by higher school taxes. I think we have paid more than our fair share of school taxes in the past,” she said.

Resident Robert Fernicola, who submitted the petition, said he will begin a new petition drive to get the proper number of signatures needed to place the issue before voters.

“There were not enough signatures on the petition to move it forward at this time,” said Village Clerk Lorraine Carafa.

Robert Fernicola, who lives in Loch Arbour, said he submitted the petition Wednesday. Village Clerk Lorraine Carafa will now review the signatures on the petition and, if all are in order, then a special election on the issue will be held in about three weeks.

“The commission form of government will be the same that presently exists in Allenhurst and Deal,” Fernicola said.

Loch Arbour is the only community in the state that uses the village-form of government. It is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees.

Village residents can expect to see tax bills with huge increases over the next month.

Superior Court Judge Thomas W. Cavanagh Jr. rejected the village’s suit to have an injunction imposed on the increase but he also ordered a short discovery period and a hearing for the matter on Oct. 1.

“We are taking it one day at a time and following our legal advice. We are going forward with the litigation,” said Betty McBain, president of the village’s Board of Trustees.

To read the rest of the story get the July 9 edition of The Coaster on your newsstand now.

Superior Court Judge Thomas W. Cavanagh Jr. rejected the village’s suit to have an injunction imposed on the increase.

To read the rest of the story get the July 2 edition of The Coaster on your newsstand now.

Superior Court Judge Thomas W. Cavanagh Jr. heard procedural arguments from both sides in an attempt by Loch Arbour to have an injunction issued to halt the tax increase, which is scheduled to go into effect July 1.

“We are seeking a preliminary injunction to keep the (school tax) status quo until a summary hearing, with testimony, can be held later,” said Michael Schottland, the Freehold-based attorney representing Loch Arbour.

To read the rest of the story get the June 25 edition of The Coaster on your newsstand now.

Sen. Sean Kean said he met with Corzine June 10 to discuss Kean’s proposal for the state to offset at least some of the village’s school tax increase for this year.

“The governor knows about the issue and is aware that it has been getting a lot of press,” he said.

To read the rest of the story get the June 11 edition of The Coaster on your newsstand now.

The village will also seek a court injunction to stop a $1.3 million school tax increase scheduled to begin July 1.

“Our attorney is of the mindset that special legislation cannot be repealed through general legislation. In other words, the state repealed the Kiely bill illegally,” said Betty McBain, president of the Loch Arbour Board of Trustees.

To read the rest of the story get the June 4 edition of The Coaster on your newsstand now.

Many residents support legal action over school tax bill

The village’s Board of Trustees voted at Tuesday’s special meeting to seek legislation that will phase-in the unprecedented school tax increase over a period of time instead of initiate a lawsuit.

“I am trying to do everything in my power to have a positive outcome to this,” Kean told residents at last Wednesday’s standing-room-only Board of Trustees meeting.

Kean said he will try to persuade the state Legislature to phase-in the $1.3 million increase over a period of years rather than have the village burdened by the entire increase in just one year.