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The Star-Ledger April 18, 2007, posted 1:35PM
Nearly four in five New Jersey school budgets won voter approval on Tuesday, the highest total since 2001, according to an unofficial count by the state's school boards association.
The 78 percent success rate was largely credited to an increase in state aid for next year and some of the lowest property tax hikes in years, tempering taxpayer anger that led to almost half of all budgets going down last year. Turnout also appeared to have been especially light, particularly in counties hit hard by this week's storms and flooding.
"It's quite simple: Additional state aid helps to alleviate the burden on property taxes and promotes community support for the schools," said Edwina Lee, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association. "On Tuesday, citizens responded positively with their votes."
In addition to the votes on overall budgets and their proposed tax levies, residents cast ballots on so-called "second questions" for spending over and above the base budget. Forty-six percent of those questions were approved, up from 33 percent last year, according to the association.
Voters also approved 16 or 18 bond referendums for new constructions.
Contributed by Jon Mooney
Philadelphia Inquirer
Taxes or no, many N.J. school budgets pass
Successful districts may have been helped by recently enacted tax-relief laws. Voters in some large districts, though, said no.
By Melanie Burney
Inquirer Staff Writer
ED HILLE / Inquirer Staff Photographer
Nora Pearse and her son Padraic, 9, leave the Boudinot School in Burlington City, where she had just voted yesterday for the proposed budget. Its passage would raise taxes for the first time in five years.
Despite the likelihood of paying higher property taxes, voters in many South Jersey towns yesterday approved local school budgets for the 2007-08 school year.
Voters in several districts, however, were less inclined. Budgets in several of the region's largest districts, including Washington Township in Gloucester County, Kingsway Regional, Delsea Regional and Lenape, were rejected.
In preliminary unofficial late returns, voters in at least 50 of the 104 districts in Burlington, Camden and Burlington Counties approved proposed budgets. They also elected school board members.
For the second straight year, Cherry Hill voters approved the budget, ending their cycle of rejecting budgets every other year. The $164 million spending plan adds about $238 to the average tax bill and calls for cutting 15 positions.
"I'm elated. We worked hard to identify goals that would resonate with our public," Superintendent David Campbell said. "I think this is a verification that people think we are on the right track."
Voters in nine districts in the tri-county area also approved at least two of 12 proposed second ballot questions that allow districts to raise additional taxes, typically to pay for special projects or hire more staff. At least four were rejected.
"I'm really happy," said a jubilant Maple Shade school Superintendent Cheryl Smith. The $31 million budget would add about $40 to the average annual tax bill.
In recent years, voters have expressed their anger over soaring property taxes and shrinking state aid by rejecting school budgets.
New Jersey is among only a handful of states where residents have a vote on school operating budgets. Turnout is typically light; last year only 16 percent of the state's 4.9 million registered voters participated. Yesterday's turnout wasn't immediately available.
In Gloucester County, 21 of 27 proposed budgets, or 78 percent, were approved. Last year, only 37 percent passed, the lowest approval rating in more than a decade.
In Camden County, in early results, at least 11 of 37 budgets were approved. Last year, 42 percent were approved.
In Burlington County, at least 13 out of 39 budgets were approved. Last year, 47 percent were approved.
Statewide, voters in 549 districts were considering school budgets and electing school board members.
Though many districts across the region are getting their first increase in state aid in five years, school officials said they needed even more money to stay afloat, and that meant raising taxes.
New Jersey property taxes are already the highest in the nation - on average, about $6,000 annually - and residents in some towns balk at the idea of paying more. Schools account for about 55 percent of the average tax bill.
Washington Township Superintendent Cheryl Simone expressed disappointment that voters in Gloucester County's largest district rejected a proposed $130 million budget that would have added about $219 to the average tax bill. Nine of the last 12 budgets have been defeated.
"The taxpayers' decision may prove detrimental to our award-winning academic and extracurricular programs as they now exist, and the cuts that we anticipate may indeed compromise some of our existing services," Simone said in a statement.
Proposed budgets were also defeated this year in Chesilhurst, Hainesport, Haddon Heights, Westville, Swedesboro-Woolwich, Monroe Township in Gloucester County, Pine Hill, Waterford and Winslow Township.
Last year, angry voters statewide rejected 53 percent of the proposed school budgets - the lowest approval rate since 1994. In South Jersey, voters in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties approved just 40 percent of the 104 proposed budgets.
Lenape Regional's $135.5 million budget was rejected. It would have increased taxes in seven of its eight sending districts.
School officials in the region said they compiled lean budget proposals this year, and were cautiously optimistic that voters would approve their budget proposals. A new state law this year capped annual property-tax increases at 4 percent.
In most cases, they said increases were needed to cover growing enrollment and rising costs of utilities and insurance, salaries and benefits, and state and federally mandated programs.
Glassboro Superintendent Michael Gorman said he believed this year's increase in state was just enough to get the district's $29.7 million budget passed - by 56 votes.
Said Gorman: "It was very close, but I think the fact that the aid allowed us to keep our increase to single digits at 9.9 cents made a difference to people."
Gov. Corzine lifted a five-year freeze on state aid to local districts this year, with most getting at least a 3 percent increase. In previous years, only the state's 31 Abbott or special-needs districts got increases.
Districts may have been helped by a property-tax-relief bill signed this month Corzine giving most homeowners a 20 percent tax cut.
In Burlington City, reaction was mixed to a proposed $31 million budget proposal that would raise the property taxes for the first time in five years. It would add about $73 to average tax bill.
"Some think the money is being wasted, but I feel the money is spent responsibly," said Nora Pearse, 49. "They do things in the schools here and they have a special-needs program that needs to be funded."
Liz Buehrig, 21, had personal reasons for voting. She is a recent college graduate and aspiring teacher, and her mother is a teacher.
"So we have to support the funds," she said.
Lifelong resident Anthony Bucci, 56, said he voted against the budget because he believes the schools are doing a poor job and taxpayers should not be overburdened.
"I think the public schools are pathetic. The returns have been inversely proportionate to the money they throw at the schools," said Bucci, whose two children attended private school.
In Gloucester County, South Harrison Township voters approved the $4.9 million budget by one vote. They rejected a second ballot question that would have raised an additional $283,000 to install air conditioning.
Winslow Township residents defeated the proposed budget and rejected two questions to raise an extra $700,000 to buy security equipment and hire more security personnel. The Camden County district has been plagued by violence and threats that have interrupted classes repeatedly.
This is the last year that ballot questions can be approved by a simple majority of voters. Next year, it will take a "supermajority," or 60 percent approval, and the voters' decision will be final and cannot be appealed to municipal officials.
If voters reject a budget, however, municipal officials can approve or reduce it. Some cuts can be appealed to the state education commissioner.
Voters in two Burlington County towns were considering school construction proposals. Shamong wants to spend $757,846 to renovate two schools. Riverside agreed to spend $513,000 on a roof project at Riverside Middle-High School.
Contact staff writer Melanie Burney at 856-779-3876 or mburney@phillynews.com.
Inquirer staff writers Terry Bitman, Jan Hefler and Dwight Ott contributed to this article.
CORRECTION
The budget proposal in Haddon Heights narrowly failed. Incorrect information was printed in some editions of the newspaper today.
Courier Post - Results on school budgets mixed
By JIM WALSH
Courier-Post Staff
South Jersey voters went to the polls Tuesday, approving school budgets in towns like Cherry Hill, Deptford and Mount Laurel, but rejecting spending plans in Washington Township and the Lenape regional district.
Elsewhere, budgets appeared to pass narrowly Medford and fail narrowly in Haddon Heights, both with margins of fewer than 25 votes. South Harrison's budget was approved in a 184-183 squeaker, according to unofficial results.
Budgets went down by narrow margins in Haddonfield and Evesham, while defeats were lopsided in Waterford and the Black Horse Pike regional district serving Bellmawr, Gloucester Township and Runnemede.
Winslow voters overwhelmingly rejected a budget that would cut 80 jobs, as well as a $3.7 million proposal that would bolster security.
At press time, tri-county voters had approved basic budgets in 64 districts and rejected them in 33.
School administrators fared worst in Camden County, with 21 approvals and 18 rejections. Burlington County had 23 approvals and eight rejections. Gloucester County had 20 approvals and seven rejections. Results were too close to call in at least one school board race.
In Clementon, board candidates William Weyland and Virginia de Haan tied at 119 votes in a race for the third of three seats, according to unofficial results. Harry Gahm trailed both by a single vote.
The budget votes came in the wake of reform efforts that imposed a 4 percent cap on property-tax increases. Also, the state increased aid to local districts for the first time in years.
Budget opponents on Tuesday criticized school spending and said taxes were too high.
"We're all suffering and it's not just we seniors," said Bob Fenner of Evesham, who opposed both the local K-8 budget and the Lenape regional district budgets. "It's all of us suffering."
Budget backers said schools needed funds to teach children and support communities.
"I don't have any children in school, but it looks like they're spending the money wisely," said Jackie Rose of Cherry Hill, who voted for the district's budget. "It's important to keep the schools on the plus side."
Eric Fieldman of Cherry Hill, who voted for the budget in his town, also was rooting for the spending plan in West Deptford, where he is a special-education teacher. The West Deptford budget was approved.
"I'm a firm believer that all schools districts should get our support," he said. "Education is important."
But public interest was tepid. Voter turnout was about 11 percent in Gloucester County and 14.8 percent in Burlington County. A figure was not available for Camden County.
Voters supported budget proposals in Camden and Gloucester City.
In Willingboro, school board president Anthony Clemons and longtime board member Hosey Best were losing re-election bids with about 90 percent of the ballots counted. Willingboro residents also rejected a budget that called for no tax increase.
In Cherry Hill, voters supported a $163.6 million plan that would boost property taxes by $238 annually for an average house assessed at $140,000.
In Washington Township, administrators had defended the spurned $130.1 million proposal as a "maintenance" budget. If passed, it would have increased taxes by some $220 a year for an average home.
If voters reject either a base budget or second-ballot question, the proposal will go to the municipal governing body for review. "The municipality may leave the budget intact, or make cuts," according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.
If the school board considers the cuts to be excessive, it can file an appeal with the commissioner of the state Department of Education.
Any cuts to a defeated second-ballot question are final.
Voters last year approved 53.4 percent of school budgets across the state. But they approved only 43.6 percent in Burlington County, 42.1 percent in Camden County and 37 percent in Camden County.
This year, a simple majority is needed to pass any ballot question, notes the school boards association. But starting next year, 60 percent of voters must approve additional ballot questions, and the voters' decision will be final.
Staff writers Lavinia DeCastro, Matt Katz and Meg Huelsman contributed to this report. Reach Jim Walsh at (856) 486-2646 or jwalsh@courierpostonline.com
Published: April 18. 2007 3:10AM
Trenton Times - New era of budgeting put to a vote
School districts await first balloting since property tax relief
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
BY DARRYL R. ISHERWOOD
The state Legislature's tax relief strategy was put to the test yesterday as voters across the region cast ballots on the first school spending plans constructed under new state budgeting rules.
Voters also elected the school board members who will be charged with reining in spending as the governor seeks to control soaring property taxes. This year, the Legislature enacted a 4 percent cap on tax increases, a move that forced many districts to make tough choices.
In at least three of eight Mercer County school districts, voters voiced their approval of the budgets and the tax increase cap enacted by the Legislature last month. Budgets passed in Ewing, West Windsor Plainsboro Regional, Lawrence, Hopewell Valley Regional and Hamilton.
Voters rejected the budget in Washington Township.
Results were not available in the remaining two districts as of press time.
Plenty of voters who went to the polls were upset about their rising taxes.
"I'm just appalled, absolutely appalled at the spending by the school district," said Princeton Township resident Melissa Hart.
Hart, who has lived in the township for 16 years but is not a parent, said she voted against the Princeton Regional School District's proposed school tax levy and its average $428 annual tax bill increase for township homeowners.
In Mercer County, 23 seats on the boards of the county's eight voting districts were up for election. In all, 44 candidates registered for the race, including 16 incumbents. Trenton is one of the state's Abbott districts and so residents do not vote on the budget and school board members are appointed by the mayor.
In Burlington County, 128 seats were up in 39 school districts. More than half of the 160 candidates on the ballots were incumbents, as 82 sitting members ran for re-election.
In addition, voters in East Windsor and the Hopewell Valley Regional School Districts voted on ballot questions for additional funding.
In East Windsor Regional, where voters were asked to approve three extra ballot questions -- $1.5 million for full-day kindergarten, $910,000 for 13 teaching positions and $680,000 for courtesy busing -- school officials have complained repeatedly about what they called a glitch in the tax cap that removed some $4 million from the district's $77.4 million budget. Officials said without some relief from the state they would be forced to lay off teachers and cut programs.
The district was saved from more serious cuts by a $2 million add-on, which was a combination of a $1.1 million tax credit for opening the Ethel McKnight Elementary School ahead of schedule, $240,000 in aid for low-income students, a $180,000 advance in extraordinary aid and about $500,000 carried over from last year's budget, which the district recently froze to save money.
But despite the wrangling, not all voters were happy.
"Everyone I was standing in line with voted down the budget. Our taxes have doubled in the past decade ... it's crazy," said Dave Schmelia, a father of three from East Windsor.
In Hamilton, the district's union roots created a strange conflict as the teacher's union, generally pro-budget, endorsed two school board candidates who had spoken out against the spending plan. Candidates Andrew Kaszimer and Kathleen Lord, both former union members, were endorsed, but the third member of their slate was not.
The slate's stand against the budget convinced at least some voters they were the right choice.
"We're getting all this extra money this year. It should have been reduced but it's going up," said Steven Leszcynski of Klockner Road, adding he voted for Kaszimer's slate because they spoke out against the budget.
Ewing voters approved a $60.5 million budget that did not raise local school taxes. Many voters exiting the polls said the flat tax rate made the budget easy to vote for.
"I was happy our property taxes will not increase and our children will still get what they need," said parent Thereasa Locke. "I was particularly happy with the fact that Parkway School will get its new playground."
But even a flat tax rate was not enough to coax a yes vote from one resident who cast her ballot at Lore School.
"I don't think the kids are getting as good an education as they should," said the woman, who declined to reveal her name. "I think the district should be doing a lot more with their money. I don't think they should be spending so much on the administration."
In the districts where the budget is defeated, the municipality's governing body is charged with reviewing the plan, but is not required to make reductions.
New Jersey is one of the few states that gives residents the opportunity to vote on their school district's annual spending plan, said New Jersey School Board Association President Kevin E. Ciak.
"The school budget serves as a road map to guide the district in providing the programs and services that meet the board's educational goals," said Ciak. "The budget covers everything from textbooks to teacher salaries, maintenance to transportation."
Contact Darryl Isherwood at Disherwood@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5708. Staff
