Neptune board and superintendent defend tax-levy increase as residents raise affordability, charter tuition and attendance concerns

The Neptune Township Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Crater faced a packed public-comment session focused on a recent tax-levy increase and the district's budget shortfall, as dozens of residents described the hikes as unaffordable and urged state-level fixes.

Board President Della Sala opened the public-comment session with a prepared statement addressing what she called "a wealth of misinformation that has been shared via social media." She said the district had lost "more than $25,000,000 in state and federal funding" over recent years and that administrators had concluded raising the local tax levy was necessary to avoid cutting programs and positions.

Why it matters: Neptune residents told the board that recent property tax increases — several people described them as 30% to 50% in a single year — are forcing seniors and long-term homeowners to consider leaving. Commenters pushed the district to press legislators in Trenton for changes to state funding and to explain budget choices such as charter-school tuition payments and staffing cuts.

What board leaders said

Della Sala, board president, said the district had reduced staffing and trimmed "all accounts" but that continuing increases in health-care costs, utilities and transportation left few options. "Without this tax levy increase, we would have had to cut 40 positions, cancel programs, provide less transportation, and increase class sizes," she said.

Superintendent Dr. Crater summarized recent steps and district context and noted efforts to expand supports for families. She highlighted outreach already under way, saying administrators had formed a budget task force and were researching reconfiguration, transportation and potential program-delivery…