Tinton Falls: Houghtaling, Downey Progress on Decades Old Local Issue, Beck Puts Up Roadblock

TINTON FALLS - After decades of inaction by previous legislators, newly elected Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey have met one of their key first term goals - passing legislation to bring fairness between Tinton Falls and Colts Neck in educating students living on Earle Naval Base. However, Senator Beck blocked the change.

Previous legislators and incumbent Senator Jennifer Beck have sided with Colts Neck in its request for status quo. Beck testified against Tinton Falls during two committee hearings in Trenton and spoke out against the policy change publicly on numerous occasions, despite private commitments on a contrary stance.

In 1988, a measure was approved by the legislature designating Tinton Falls as the district for educating students of Naval Weapons Station Earle. The mandate proved unsustainable for Tinton Falls, whose student capacity is severely limited compared to Colts Neck School District. Tinton Falls Board Members have been forced to increase property taxes in response to the enrollment increases. Meanwhile, Colts Neck School District receives hundreds of thousands in federal funding annually that is expected to offset the costs of those students.

Assembly Members Houghtaling and Downey introduced two pieces of legislation to address this inequity: A-4453 would require that any new students residing on NWS Earle attend the Colts Neck School District. The second bill would put pressure on the federal government to provide additional funding to school districts educating students residing on federal property.

A-4453 has passed the General Assembly and Senate, but after protest from Senator Beck the legislation was vetoed by Governor Christie.