$700K Tax Hike Subject Of Ocean Gate Schools Special Election

OCEAN GATE, NJ — A permanent tax increase of $700K is necessary to keep the Ocean Gate School District afloat, officials said.

A special election Jan. 27 will ask Ocean Gate voters to consider the 27 percent tax increase, which would allow the district's only school, Ocean Gate Elementary School, to remain open.

As with many NJ school districts, Ocean Gate has also been the victim of budget cuts under S2, losing state aid every year. Without the tax increase, district officials say they may be forced to sell the school or face state control. The district believes that closing the school is the most likely option.

Prior to deciding on the special election, the district sought out regionalization with the Berkeley Township School District, officials said. But they were not interested, Ocean Gate officials said.

Ocean Gate is also exploring a merger with the Central Regional School District. But that has experienced severe delays, officials said, making Ocean Gate vulnerable.

"Meetings that should have been completed months ago remain unresolved," Board of Education President Richard Casey said. "The delay has not been due to Ocean Gate’s inaction but, rather, what appears to be outside influence and shifting directives that altered the original scope and slowed the process."

The goal of the tax increase is to keep the district afloat until the results of the regionalization study are released. It would take effect for the 2026-27 school year. The average home which is currently valued at $413,297 would see an increase of $636.48 annually or $53.04 per month, according to the district.

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