Voters Deny Request From Shore Regional To Raise Taxes For School Upgrades

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — In a stunning vote, voters in four towns — Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch — overwhelmingly voted against a request to raise taxes to make improvements to Shore Regional High School.

Shore Regional school district asked voters to approve borrowing a $51-million bond to make what the district said are much-needed facility improvements to the high school. Property taxes would have slightly increased in all four towns; how much is below. The bond referendum vote was held Tuesday.

Voters said no. A total of 2,609 people voted Tuesday, and 81 percent of voters (2,116) rejected the proposal, with 18 percent (493 voters) saying yes. This is according to these unofficial vote results from the Monmouth County Clerk (See "Shore Regional Question").

Shore Regional High School is a highly-ranked public high school that pulls students from four towns: Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch, where the school is located. However, Sea Bright plans to leave the district to join the newly created Henry Hudson Regional School District with Atlantic Highlands and Highlands, the Asbury Park Press reported. Some voters said that needs to be resolved before the district can borrow $51 million for school improvements.

Shore Regional’s school administration and the Board of Education will now consider how to move forward.

The district — from superintendent Lisa English to Shore Regional High School Principal Vincent DalliCardillo — had urged voters to approve the bond. The original Shore Regional High School building was built in the early 1960s, and the school district said it will spend the $51-million bond on upgrades to building security, building a new cafeteria, replacing the auditorium stage and gym floor, replacing the bleachers, building a music/choir room addition, building an auxiliary gym, upgrades to the science lab, STEAM lab and media center and resurfacing of the track and tennis courts.

“On behalf of the Board of Education and administration, I extend my gratitude to residents for voting and taking time to learn about the bond proposal,” said English Tuesday night after the results of the vote came in. “Our Board of Education will consider the election’s outcome and gather community feedback before discussing how to best proceed with addressing our district’s needs.”

Mail-in ballots postmarked by March 11 and provisional ballots will be counted over the next several days and will be reported once the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office tallies and verifies the results.

Here's how much taxes would have gone up by town to pay for these school upgrades:

• Monmouth Beach: $26 more per month in taxes for the average home in town assessed at $1 million

• Oceanport: $22 more per month in taxes for average home assessed at $767,746.

• Sea Bright: $34 per month more in taxes for average home assessed at $1 million.

• West Long Branch: $29 more per month for average home assessed at $972,763.

Monday's report: $51M Bond Vote Tuesday For Towns That Send To Shore Regional