{
	"type": "rich",
	"version": "1.0",
	"provider_name": "Action Network",
	"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
	
	"html": "<link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/save-holmdel-schools?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-save-holmdel-schools' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div>",
	"author_name": "Save Holmdel Education",
	"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/save-holmdel-education",
	"title": "Save Holmdel Schools",
	"thumbnail_url": "https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/714/162/normal/Save_Holmdel_Schools.jpg",
	"description": "Petition to Stop the Vonage PILOT Until Schools Get Their Fair Share The Holmdel Township Committee is preparing to approve a tax break called PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) for the redevelopment of the former Vonage headquarters. If approved without revenue sharing, the Holmdel schools will lose roughly $240,000 every year. What’s at Stake Today, the Vonage property pays: $358,000/year in regular taxes $240,000/year directly to Holmdel schools Under a PILOT: The developer pays a special fee instead of normal property taxes Schools get nothing unless a separate sharing agreement is created At a time when the district already faces $4–6 million budget deficit for the coming year, staff cuts, and program reductions, losing this revenue would make things even worse. Meanwhile… The Township has benefited heavily from existing PILOTs: $24 million in unexpected revenue (2020–2024) Spending increased from $25M to $32.4M Its surplus grew from $3.5 million to $8.2 million (2020 – 2025) $7.5M/year in Bell Works PILOT payments—none shared with schools (except for paying security officers, which should be part of public safety, at about $450K) Yet homeowners have seen property taxes continue to rise, and the district may eventually need a school tax referendum if new revenue isn’t secured. What Mayor Pat Impreveduto Said in 2014 A Patch article published in June 2014, when Holmdel Township Committee approved the Bell Works PILOT program, reported: “In response to questions by residents and school board members at the meeting, Mayor Patrick Impreveduto and Deputy Mayor Hinds explained that 95 percent of the anticipated increase in tax assessment would benefit the municipal portion of the property tax bill, and 5 percent goes to Monmouth County. If school taxes go up, the municipality can balance the property tax bill by decreasing municipal taxes to a point that offsets school taxes.” School taxes have gone up by $9 million in the past three years. The school district is facing a budget deficit of around $4 - 6 million and is expected to significantly increase its taxes next year. Meanwhile, the municipal portion of our property taxes has not decreased, despite what former Mayor Pat Impreveduto has promised. What Residents Want A recent community survey shows overwhelming support for sharing PILOT revenue: 94% want schools to receive a portion 63% support giving schools at least 40% 89% want the issue decided by a public referendum Why We Need to Act Now Approving another PILOT before establishing a revenue-sharing policy—or letting residents vote on one—will: Remove $240,000/year from school funding Deepen budget deficits and force more cuts Increase pressure for future school tax hikes Holmdel families and taxpayers deserve better. Sign the Petition We call on the Township Committee to delay approval of the Vonage PILOT until: A significant portion of future PILOT revenues is committed to the Holmdel schools, or A public referendum to let Holmdel residents decide about the sharing of PILOT receipts with the school district Add your name to demand transparency, fairness, and fiscal responsibility. Protect our schools. Protect our taxpayers. Sign now",
	"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/dd8349aec01b81896b85a19ac662f7aa45076b9b"
}