State law doesn’t permit a tax increase without a voter referendum approving it.
Like Lakewood, if the options are stark, at least no one can complain when busing is taken away if the increase is not passed.
P.S. I read yesterday that over 8% of all Lakewood NJ properties are exempt from property tax, as compared to 1.5% in neighboring Toms River. Perhaps that is something that can be cracked down on in East Ramapo as well to raise revenue.