Holmdel Speaks: 94% Say PILOT Money Should Support Our Schools

Based on the article in Better Holmdel by Kin Gee: PILOT Survey Results

A recent community survey of 145 respondents shows overwhelming support for sharing Holmdel’s PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) revenue with the school district and for putting the question directly to voters in a public referendum.

Strong support for sharing PILOT revenue with schools

When asked whether the Holmdel Township Committee should share a percentage of PILOT tax revenue with the school district, 94% of respondents said yes, with only 4% opposed and 2% unsure.

Currently, Holmdel collects about $7.5 million annually from the two Bell Works PILOT programs and may receive more from the proposed Vonage redevelopment. Under normal property taxes, roughly 68% of revenue would go to the school district, but the schools receive nothing from PILOT payments.

On the question of how much PILOT revenue should be shared with the schools:

• 41.4% favored sending more than 50% of PILOT payments to the district.
• 21.4% supported sharing 41–50%.
• 14.5% favored 31–40%.
• Only a small share was unsure (8.3%).

Taken together, 62.8% of respondents believe at least 40% of PILOT funds should go to the schools, and 77.3% support sharing at least 30%.

Broad backing for a public referendum

The survey also asked whether there should be a public referendum allowing Holmdel residents to decide if PILOT revenue should be shared with the school district.

• 89% said yes to a public question.
• 5.5% said no.
• 5.5% were not sure.

This indicates strong support for giving residents a direct voice on the issue.

Themes from resident comments

Open-ended comments show intense concern about the impact of PILOTs on school funding and property values. Many respondents said they moved to Holmdel for its schools and worry that underfunding will hurt both students and home values. Others described the current PILOT structure as “crushing the school district” and called it “unfair” that the township benefits financially while the schools face budget shortfalls.

Several comments suggested that at least 50–60% of PILOT revenue should go to the schools, or that there should be no PILOT at all if the schools cannot share in the revenue. Others raised concerns about the proposed Vonage project, asking for more transparency, environmental safeguards, and public input before additional PILOT agreements are approved.

Overall, this informal survey reflects strong community sentiment that Holmdel’s schools should receive a significant share of PILOT revenue and that residents should have a direct say in how these funds are handled.

Given how dire the financial conditions are at our schools, we call on our elected officials to act immediately by adopting a resolution or ordinance to place a non‑binding public question before the voters—on the next general election ballot, or, if legally permitted, at a special election—on whether a substantial share of PILOT revenues should be dedicated to our school district.

Prakash Santhana

Former Holmdel Deputy Mayor