Voters in most New Jersey school districts
headed to the polls today to decide on local school budgets.
With state aid cuts and animosity between Gov. Chris Christie
and the New Jersey Education Association, the elections
became very heated.
Here is what happens next:
What happens if the budget failed?
School districts have two days after election results
are certified to deliver defeated budgets to their local
governing body. The governing body can trim the budget
and recommend reductions in expenditures, or leave it
as is. The school board is not obligated to follow the
specific recommendations for cuts; it only must comply
with the dollar amount. If a school board does not agree
with a town’s cuts to the defeated budget, it can
apply to the state education commissioner for restoration
of the funds. If voters reject a second ballot question,
there is no appeal.
What happens if a regional school
district budget failed?
The regional board of education and administration will
sit down with the mayor or a representative from all municipalities
in the district. For example, North Hunterdon Regional
High School District consists of 12 towns, so mayors from
each of the towns will make the decision to decrease the
tax levy by a certain dollar figure, or they can choose
to leave the budget as is.
If layoffs and program cuts
are announced and the budget passed can it still change?
Yes. If state aid increases, districts may use that money
to restore staff and programs. Also, if teacher unions
agree to renegotiate their contracts,
the money saved can be used to restore programs.
How much will my taxes increase
this year?
Generally, the school part of a local property tax levy
is not permitted to exceed 4 percent, although the law
allows exceptions for specific reasons, such as loss of
state aid or increases in health insurance premiums. The
commissioner of education, however, has said the county
superintendents will discourage school districts from
using these exceptions.