Four BOE Members Speak Out for Property Tax Relief

A team of allied Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education members spoke out today regarding the $1.25 million in additional state aid coming to the school district announced Tuesday.

Board members Michael Strumolo, Susy Golderer, Gary Martin and Sharif Shamsudin came together today to send a message: They demand that the money be returned to taxpayers immediately.

School Superintendent LeRoy Seitz talked about the additional funding at the Thursday night Board of Education meeting. At the gathering, he noted that members had three options for dealing with the money: spending it on district-related purchases, carrying it over for property tax relief in the next two years or giving it back to ratepayers now. In order for the latter option, the decision would have to be made by next Tuesday, July 19.

At the Thursday meeting, Strumolo complained about getting the information at the last minute. Superintendent Seitz responded, saying that he presented the information as soon as it became available.

According to the superintendent, if the additional aid was given back to taxpayers, the average homeowner (with a home valued at around $310,000) would have his or her tax reduced by about $10 to $12.

Township Business Administrator Jasmine Lim's calculations lead to a different number.

"I figured $52.70 savings to a residence with our average assessed value of $309,000," she told Patch.

"The governor said he wants the money to be used for tax relief," said Strumolo. "We agree. It's time to get taxpayers the relief they so rightly deserve."

Martin agreed, noting that there is another projected $5 million surplus to consider as well.

"We should know the exact amount of money we have in reserve. It should be returned to the public," he said. "And I am really interested in seeing an independent audit to find out why we are having these overages."

Ray Sarinelli of Nisivoccia and Co. was slated to present findings of an investigation into how the projected $5 million surplus was generated, but that presentation was postponed until the Aug. 25 Board of Education meeting.

"We're making this statement publicly because we don't have much time before the July 19 deadline," Strumolo said. "We hope our fellow board members will stand with us and give the taxpayers back their money."

Board member Anthony Mancuso says other members are interested in providing taxpayers relief as well.

"I think it's disingenuous for board members to make this kind of a statement when we had the opportunity last night to vote on it and people willing to vote to use the funds for property tax relief," he said. "Mr. Strumolo said at the meeting that he couldn't vote on it because he hadn't had enough time to think about it."