BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer

On Tuesday, it is hoped that there will be a larger turnout for the school board elections in Tinton Falls than there was last year.

One reason for the low turnout has been eliminated. This year, Election Day does not coincide with spring break and vacation schedules. But other reasons for the low turnout never change, people just don't come out to vote in significant numbers for school district elections.

Residents will be voting on the 2007-08 Tinton Falls K-8 school district's tentative $27.3 million budget with a tax levy of $17,282,133, which is a 4.2 percent increase over last year's tax levy of $16,576,450.

The tax rate per $100 of assessed valuation is $1.45. That means that a Tinton Falls homeowner with a house valued at $150,000 would see an increase of $53.30 on their next tax bill.

For Shrewsbury Township, where a smaller number of students come from, the tax rate is $1.97, an increase of 3.25 cents. The average home is assessed at $50,000, so it would mean a $16.25 increase per year.

Last year, Tinton Falls residents saw a slight decrease of one-tenth of 1 cent and Shrewsbury Township resident saw an 11.4-cent increase.

Voters in the Monmouth Regional High School District will vote on a tax levy of $18,427,809 to support the 2007-08 proposed spending plan; a 4 percent increase over last year.

The total spending plan of $25.4 million, is up 1.5 percent over last year's budget total of $25.3 million.

The regional school district comprises three towns. Eatontown's share of the tax levy is 43.5 percent, Tinton Falls is 54.8 percent and Shrewsbury Township's is 1.024 percent. That means that the owner of a house in Eatontown valued at $200,000 will see an increase of 0.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, or $47.80 annually; Tinton Falls' taxpayers will see an increase of 0.3 cents or $54.90 a year; and Shrewsbury Township taxpayers will see a 0.14-cent increase, or $286.40 annually.

There are three Tinton Falls seats available on the Tinton Falls Board of Education, but only two candidates. In addition, there is one Shrewsbury Township seat open.

Incumbent Sandra Lopez of Neville Street is seeking to retain her seat representing Tinton Falls, and Kenneth Hager of Orla Court is running for the first time, also from Tinton Falls.

Tracey Johnson of Belshaw Avenue in Shrewsbury Township is filling an unexpired one-year term and is

running to retain her seat for a three-year term.

There is no contest for seats on the Monmouth Regional School District's Board of Education, which includes Tinton Falls, Eatontown and Shrewsbury Township.

There are three, three-year seats and three candidates for the nine-member board, one Eatontown seat and two Tinton Falls.

The Monmouth Regional Board of Education includes four Eatontown seats, four Tinton Falls seats and one Shrewsbury Township seat.

All the candidates are incumbents: John Schiels lives on Copperfield Court in Eatontown; Thomas Neff lives on Penn Court in Tinton Falls; and Tony Schaible lives on Rutgers Drive in Tinton Falls.

Board of Education elections and budget vote will be held on April 17 between 3-9 p.m. at various locations in all three districts.