Times
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
T H E H OW E L L
Vol. 12 - No. 50
Inside This Week’s Edition
Business Directory............................ 18 Classifieds......................................... 19 Community News.......................... 8-11 Dear Pharmacist ............................... 14 Fun Page .......................................... 20 Government ....................................... 7 Inside the Law .................................. 17 Letters To The Editor .......................... 6 Wolfgang ......................................... 23 WWW.MICROMEDIAPUBS.COM
Your FREE Weekly Hometown Newspaper | Serving Howell and Farmingdale
After Biking 300 Miles, Police Feed Homeless
–Photo courtesy Howell Police Howell’s officers on the Police Unity Tour did not rest on their laurels after arriving in Washington, D.C. after a 300-mile bike ride, and instead fed the local homeless. By Catherine Galioto who participated in the 300-mile they prepared to the local homeIn a ride that took them from Police Unity Tour set up shop in less in need. Howell to Washington, D.C. by the nation’s capital with an imHowell has participated in the bicycle, the Howell Police Officers promptu barbecue, giving food (Tour - See Page 4)
May 21, 2016
OVERALL SCHOOL BUDGET SHRINKS $2.5M
By Catherine Galioto HOWELL – The Howell Schools budget will shrink by $2.5 million, to $111.3 million, but the tax levy is growing over last budget by about $2 million, creating an increase of $71 more in school taxes for the average homeowner. With officials saying they presented a needs-based budget that maintains all programs, the 2016-2017 school budget includes a $76.6 million tax levy. The budget hearing and presentation came at the May 4 meeting of the school board. With a tax rate of $1.184 per $100 of assessed valuation, the tax rate is decreasing $0.015 over last budget. However, with the average home value going up in Howell to $318,000, the average home ow ne r w i l l cont r ibut e $3,765 in local school taxes, or about $71 more. Ratables are growing in Howell at 3 percent since last year, in what off icials said was a sign of economic growth for the township. Also funding the budget is varied sources of state aid: $33.658
million total aid from state sources, down by $2,000. Assistant Superintendent Ronald Sanasac said the budget is one that does not see any significant cuts or additions year-over-year and is a “maintenance budget.” Still, in putting together the spending plan, the challenges of the budget season are the costs of mandated testing, deferring capital projects and keeping up with security initiatives. The district is also paying down its debt significantly, he said, paying $5.99 million in debt service. “We try to have multi-year program of forecasting and planning, instead of living from year to year,” Sanasac said. “Our debt picture continues to go down.” The largest chunk of spending is salaries, at $65.5 million, or 55 percent of the budget. Benefits, at $26.9 million is 23 percent of the budget, while operational and instructional expenses are $26.86 million or 22 percent. The budget presentation and user-friendly budget are available on the district website, howell. k12.nj.us.
Officials: Market For Movie Theater Shows Howell’s Growth
By Shawn Smith HOWELL – A year ago, the side entrance to the Greenleaf shopping center on Route 9 in Howell was mostly trees and dirt. Today, it is home to one of the newest additions in the township, a movie theater, in what officials said is an endorsement on the growth of the township. The Xscape cinema opened May 6. Tony Yencarelli, a manager at the theater, said the cinema had a “soft opening” on Friday, April
29, which was then followed by the grand opening last week. So far, he said business has been doing well. “Reception has been good,” Yencarelli said. “People have been waiting, dying, for a movie theater to come in here… instead of travelling to Freehold or Brick where there are the AMC’s that they are not as happy with them.” Township Mayor William Gotto said a plan for a movie theater has been in the works for years and it
is exciting to finally see it come to life. “This is all part of smart growth. You want it to grow, but in a way that’s positive for the town,” he said. “You have to get the right businesses and put them in the right place. Putting a movie theater on Route 9 does both of those things.” The idea behind bringing a movie theater to Howell is to improve the quality of life for residents who (Theater - See Page 4)
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–Photo by Shawn Smith Xscape cinema opened in Howell, the newest tenant to open in Greenleaf Plaza.