COLTS NECK • ENGLISHTOWN • FREEHOLD BOROUGH • FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP • MANALAPAN • MARLBORO
NEWS TRANSCRIPT
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
thenewstranscript.com
Start date for assessments pushed back
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COURTESY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY PARK SYSTEM
The deadline for entries into the Monmouth County Park System’s 2021 Creative Arts and Music Festival is March 15. Interested artists are invited to submit images for consideration. This juried art show and sale is open to artists of every medium. Rules and an entry form are available at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. Event organizers said musicians who will perform at the festival have already been selected. The Creative Arts and Music Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 at Thompson Park, Lincroft. The festival will feature fine art vendors, live music, creative activities and food vendors.
he New Jersey Department of Education has announced it is postponing the planned start date of all assessments until April 5. Department administrators said they recognize the disruption to education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “While the U.S. Department of Education has not indicated that it will allow states to waive their statewide assessment obligations for the 2020-21 school year,” the department said in a memo, “the DOE has heard requests from many stakeholders to explore all options regarding flexibilities prior to administering the statewide assessment systems.” New Jersey School Boards Association Executive Director Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod said, “It is our hope the state will give consideration to eliminating formal student assessments for this year, due to the unique circumstances of the pandemic. It would provide welcome relief to boards, superintendents, students and staff.” In its memo, the state Department of Education said it will provide updated information as soon as possible, as well as support for school district administrators as they continue to tentatively schedule and plan for the spring administration of the statewide tests.
Monmouth County commissioners introduce $453M budget By MARK ROSMAN Managing Editor
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he Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners has introduced a $453 million budget to fund the operation of the county in 2021. The budget was introduced during a meeting on Feb. 11. Commissioners Ross Licitra, Nick DiRocco, Lillian Burry, Deputy Director Susan Kiley and Director Thomas Arnone voted “yes” on a motion to introduce the budget. A public hearing on the budget will be
held at the Monmouth County Hall of Records, Freehold Borough, at 2 p.m. March 11. At that time, comments on the budget may be presented by taxpayers or other interested persons. Officials said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, county buildings are not open to the public. The March 11 meeting will be available via a Facebook live-stream. A link to the meeting will be available at the website www.facebook.com/MonmouthGoyNd As a result of the national and state
declarations of emergency, members of the public are requested to participate remotely. Monmouth County Director of Finance Craig R. Marshall provided a synopsis of the 2021 county budget revenues and appropriations during a workshop meeting that preceded the commissioners’ regular meeting on the afternoon of Feb. 11. One significant item of interest to property owners is that the county tax levy is increasing by $6.1 million, from $311.5 million in 2020 to $317.6 million in 2021.
The county tax levy is paid by residential and commercial property owners to help support the operation of the county. Marshall showed the following revenues for 2021: surplus anticipated, $33.5 million; miscellaneous revenues, $101.9 million; and amount to be raised by taxation, $317.6 million. The total revenues equal $453 million. Marshall showed the following appropriations for 2021: general government,
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