Sign our petition for sharing of PILOT revenue with schools
URGENT
Due to significant increases in insurance, employee benefits, and transportation costs, the Holmdel School District is facing a dire budget crisis, with an estimated $4–6 million deficit. Without immediate action, the district may soon be forced to take drastic measures, including:
- Laying off teachers
- Outsourcing paraprofessionals and custodians
- Eliminating courtesy busing
- Reducing academic and extracurricular programs
- Raising property taxes yet again
At the same time, the Holmdel Township Committee collects approximately $7.5 million annually from the Bell Works PILOT program. Under state law, the Township retains 95% of PILOT payments, the county receives 5%, and the school district receives zero—even though 68% of property taxes normally support the school district. The Township Committee has also recently approved a new PILOT agreement for the Vonage redevelopment.
PILOT revenues have allowed the Township to increase its spending by $7.4 million over the past five years and grow its surplus from $3.5 million to $8.2 million, while the school district faces severe cuts that directly impact students and families.
Other municipalities have acted to protect their schools. On January 30, 2026, NJ.com reported that Hackensack’s City Council transferred $6.5 million in emergency funds to its school district to address a deficit. That transfer represented 30% of the city’s $21.8 million budget surplus.
Holmdel residents overwhelmingly support similar action. A November 2025 community survey with 145 respondents found that:
- 77.3% support sharing at least 30% of PILOT revenue with the school district
- 89% support a public referendum allowing residents to decide whether PILOT revenue should be shared with the schools
Most families choose Holmdel because of its excellent schools. If this budget crisis continues, students will suffer, educational quality will decline, and the township’s reputation—and property values—will be at risk.
Call to Action
Please sign this petition urging the Holmdel Township Committee to adopt a resolution or ordinance establishing a shared services agreement that directs at least 30% of annual PILOT revenue to the Holmdel School District.
Alternatively, the Township Committee should place a public question on the ballot allowing residents to decide whether a substantial share (30% or more) of all PILOT revenue should be dedicated to our school district.
Please share this petition after signing.
Did you know many teachers do not return tests or assessments—even in middle school?
Withholding tests and assessments has serious consequences:
1. It deprives students of essential feedback and opportunities for learning.
2. It limits parental oversight, hindering their ability to support their children.
3. It prevents the correction of grading errors or flawed questions.
The school’s justifications for this practice are unconvincing:
(a) To Prevent Cheating
Holmdel is not unique. Schools worldwide address this by creating alternate versions of tests. Even elite universities return assessments. Prioritizing academic integrity should not come at the cost of student learning.
(b) Office Hours Are Available
This is insufficient:
i.Limited availability makes scheduling difficult.
ii.Students who struggle with a teacher’s method may need outside help—which they can’t seek effectively without test details.
iii.Students learn best when they can review material at their own pace and on their own time.
(c) You Can Request to View the Test
The current process is inadequate and discouraging:
i.Parents must take time off work and schedule meetings.
ii.Review sessions are brief, monitored, and prohibit copying or note-taking.
iii.Tests cannot be taken home.
This policy hinders learning, reduces transparency, and serves the convenience of the system rather than the needs of students.
BOE Public Hearing - Extending Superintendent Cascone’s Contract
The Holmdel BOE announced it is considering an extension to Superintendent Cascone’s contract at its meeting on June 25, 2025. A public hearing will be held during the meeting. The superintendent is the “chief executive officer” of our schools and materially impacts our children’s education and learning experience and, as such, their future.
We encourage parents and stakeholders to attend, listen and share their views on this important decision.
Here are some questions to ponder:
1. It is understood that Dr. Cascone will retire after this extension, assuming an extension is granted. Knowing this, is this the best decision that the school district could make? Should the school district consider a search now for an individual who can be the superintendent for more than three years?
2. Are you happy with how our school district has performed in the last 3 years?
3. Are you happy with how school rules and regulations are uniformly enforced or not enforced?
4. Our school district seems to have more than its share of turnovers and personnel changes. Are you happy with these changes? Are these changes harbingers of things happening in our school district?
5. Has the school board conducted a survey (anonymously) of school staff and teachers to get an assessment of how Dr. Cascone has performed? If not, why not?
6. Why did the school district budget $800,000 less in transportation costs for 2024-2025 than the cost incurred two years ago? Was Dr. Cascone complicit in the bus logistical problems last September?
7. Did you know that tests and assessments are not routinely returned to students and parents, even after this was brought to Dr. Cascone’s attention?
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