Your Turn

Regionalization does not work for small communities - period!

The Shore Regional High School 2008-09 budget has been proposed, and Sea Bright's tax levy will be $2,186,366 to educate 27 students. This means that Sea Bright will be paying $80,976 per student. That's right … $80,976! Any level- headed individual would say that is crazy and everyone in Sea Bright agrees.

Shore Regional High School is doing nothing wrong. This amount is based on a complicated formula that takes into consideration the number of students in the grammar school as well as Shore Regional and the equalized value of the municipal i ty, etc.

This formula was voted into law by the N.J. State Legislature and was supposed to guarantee every child a "thorough and efficient" education. We do not disagree with that intention, but as far as Sea Bright taxpayers are concerned - and other small communities in similar situations - it has also guaranteed an unbelievable unfair financial hardship which must be resolved by the same body that voted for this unfair formula in the first place - N.J. State Legislature!

Sea Bright has the least amount of students (27), has the lowest equalized property value ($859,888,235), but has the highest increase (6.6 cents per $100 of assessed value), and the highest per pupil cost ($80,976.53).

The cost to educate a student at Shore Regional is $14,726, based on another formula devised by the Department of Education, which is defined as current expenses exclusive of tuition expenditures, transportation, residential costs (n/a) and judgments against the school board (n/a). So why are we expected to pay $80,976 per pupil?

Per pupil costs for Sea Bright are $80,976, and Monmouth Beach $30,976. Yet Oceanport ($12,990) and West Long Branch ($12,969) are lower than the perpupil cost ($14,726), based on a mandated formula by the Department of Education which makes no sense at all.

The total tax levy for the four communities is $13,151,046, and the total number of students is 729.5. So the true cost to educate a student at Shore Regional is $18,027.

There are a number of municipalities that are pursuing legal action against the state, which adds unnecessary legal costs to all taxpayers. Everyone shares the costs to defend the state, regardless of where we live in the state.

The solution is simple - eliminate complicated formulas devised in the past and fairly charge each municipality on a true per-pupil cost. All we are asking for is fairness and common sense.

This is not a problem that only affects the small community of Sea Bright; it is a statewide problem that affects many communities and taxpayers.

I feel it is my responsibility as mayor to bring this to everyone's attention, and it is the Legislature's obligation to undo such an outrageous injustice now!

Maria D. Fernandes is the mayor of Sea Bright