Higher voter turnout expected in Tuesday's school elections, not necessarily more defeated budgets

Sunday, April 18, 2010
By STEPHEN J. NOVAK
The Express-Times

As a result, when voters go to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on school board elections, most of them in the area will see smaller district budgets than in the previous year.

All seven high school districts in Warren and northern Hunterdon counties have reduced their 2010-11 spending plans by varying degrees from the last school year -- from a decrease of $232,435 in Belvidere to more than $2.3 million in North Hunterdon-Voorhees.

In many cases, those cuts will be felt through reductions in programs and staff.

Most school districts in the area did raise their tax levies -- the amount they expect to raise in taxes -- but stayed within the state-mandated 4 percent cap to account for fixed cost increases and reductions in state aid.

Local and state officials are waiting to see how voters respond to the parity.

"It's going to be interesting," said New Jersey Executive County School Business Administrator William Poch, who with the county executive superintendent reviewed each school budget in Warren County. "We'll wait and see what happens Tuesday night."

Poch said he anticipates more budgets failing than last year but still sees the majority of Warren County's 22 budgets passing. Five 2009-10 budgets failed in Warren County. A failed school budget goes to the municipal government for review, possible changes and approval.

Statistics from the New Jersey School Boards Association indicate a majority of school budgets statewide have met with approval since 1976, when only 44 percent passed.

Governor sparks interest

"There's more attention on budgets this year simply because school funding has been a major factor of the governor's budget," said Frank Belluscio, spokesman for the school boards association.

"I don't think necessarily there will be a negative impact," he said. "I think people are more aware, which could mean a greater voter turnout but not necessarily more defeated budgets."

Since taking office in January, Christie has taken a hard stance on education funding. He reduced school aid for the current year by $415 million, forcing districts to tap budget surpluses that administrators say could have helped keep property tax increases down in the coming school year.

In the governor's fiscal year 2011 budget, he calls for $819 million in state aid cuts. The Legislature must approve the proposal by July 1.

Wage freeze 'encouraged'

Christie has pushed for school staff to agree to wage freezes this year. When met with a tepid response from teachers, Christie on Monday said he would "encourage" voters to vote down budgets where freezes are not taken.

Hunterdon Central Regional has had all its employees agree to a freeze. Warren Hills Regional's administrators have also taken the action, and its teachers are considering doing the same. Several districts have said they are in talks.

Teachers' jobs are among significant cuts also included in school budgets.

In a survey of 323 school districts around the state, the school boards association found more than 85 percent of school districts plan to lay off teaching staff. There are 588 districts in New Jersey.

About two-thirds of the surveyed districts plan to cut extracurricular activities. Almost 60 percent say programs will be affected by the loss of faculty.

"There's very difficult decisions school boards are making," Belluscio said. "Many schools have put together responsible budgets, which is very difficult to do based on the current conditions."

---

Below are the proposed total operating budgets for seven high schools in the region, compared to the previous year.

School districts publish more complete budget information, including proposed tax rates, on their websites.

DISTRICT 2010-11 BUDGET '09-10 BUDGET DIFFERENCE

BELVIDERE $11,936,193 $12,168,628 -$232,435

DELAWARE VALLEY $16,371,762 $17,037,079 -$665,317

HACKETTSTOWN $27,424,859 $28,964,409 -$1,539,550

N. HUNTERDON-VOORHEES $54,794,148 $57,096,779 -$2,302,631

NORTH WARREN $15,673,560 $16,775,436 -$1,101,876

PHILLIPSBURG $51,076,731 $51,886,945 -$810,214

WARREN HILLS $32,135,306 $34,134,174 -$1,998,868

---

School districts are required to allow voting from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, though polls may be open as early as 7 a.m. in some locations.

In addition to school tax levies, voters will decide contested school board races in Bloomsbury, Califon, Hackettstown, Lambertville, Lebanon and Phillipsburg and the townships of Blairstown, Greenwich, Holland, Lebanon, Liberty, Lopatcong, Mansfield, Raritan, Readington and Tewksbury. North Hunterdon-Voorhees and Tewksbury voters also face school improvement ballot questions.