Artificial turf unfair expense

Published in the Asbury Park Press 05/24/05

Dover Township Mayor Paul Brush called the $2.5 million approved to purchase artificial turf for the three high schools a partnership of Dover Township taxpayers with the Toms River Regional school system. The partnership will benefit only those children participating in sports programs such as soccer, lacrosse and football.

If the school system had placed the $2.5 million turf expense in its budget, it would require a vote by the taxpayers. Why are we denied our right to vote on this huge expense?

If the school system approached the township with an educational need for books in all 17 school libraries for our approximately 19,000 children, the expense would benefit all our children. To subject our taxpayers to this expense for select sports groups is discrimination, categorically rather than individually. Sports are not the only interest among all our children.

The school system expects to have approximately 100,000 attendees at $25 a ticket at the Toms RiverFest in July at the Poland Spring Center (formally the Ritacco Center). Do the math! The "benefit" of the RiverFest should be the $2.5 million turf expense. The rush to pass the ordinance is to install the turf at Toms River North in time for RiverFest. Where else would it be placed first?

Carol A. Benson

DOVER TOWNSHIP