NJSBA Analyzes Success Factors of Second Ballot Questions

 

TRENTON, March 23, 2006—Voter approval for second ballot questions lags far behind the approval rate for boards’ base budgets. In 2005, for example, voters approved more than 70% of base budgets—but less than 42% of second questions.

 

And, with another year of flat funding, more school boards may consider the option of presenting a second ballot question to voters for additional funding items beyond the base budget.

 

But what are the ingredients for a successful second ballot question?

 

The New Jersey School Boards Association has researched the components of 74 second ballot questions that were presented to voters last year in five dozen school districts.

 

In short, higher success accompanies questions that:

  • Ask voters for multiple items rather than funding for one item;
  • Ask for funding in key areas of staff retention, summer school/enrichment, renovations and security (and, to a lesser degree, technology);
  • Are not vaguely worded;
  • Address issues in multiple schools.

 

 

Below is a more detailed analysis of factors that seemed to lead to higher success rates on second questions.

 

What was requested

 

Questions with a high success rate asked for (success rates in parentheses):

  • Security (75%)
  • To retain existing staff/programs (75%)
  • Renovations (69%)
  • Summer school/extracurricular/enrichment programs (66%)

 

Questions with a poor success rate asked for (success rates in parentheses):

  • Busing (16% success rate)
  • Small class size (20%)
  • Athletics/renovations to athletic facilities (37.5%)

 

Questions that were about the same as the overall success rate of second-ballot proposals included guidance counselors; administrators; classroom teachers (including art and music teachers); and additional or expansion of courses (including full-day kindergarten). Technology fared slightly better than the overall second-question average, with a 54% pass rate.

 

 

Multiple items requested

 

  • The success rate for second ballot questions that asked for multiple items was 60%.
  • The success rate for second ballot questions that asked for one item (e.g., only busing, or only technology) was 29.5%
  • The vast majority (85%) of the one-item questions that voters did approve included “successful” issues of security, renovations and technology).

 

 

Addressing multiple schools

 

When asking for renovations, the success rate for addressing multiple schools is higher than addressing renovations to one school—71% vs. 50%. (Not included in this calculation were one-school districts.)

 

 

Text of question

 

Although a subjective component to measure, the analysis indicates that vague questions are more likely to fail.

 

The 2005 ballots contained several examples of such language: Asking voters for staff to “alleviate some of the overcrowding” (without listing teachers to be hired, or describing what grades to be addressed); asking voters to fund “curriculum enhancement” (with no description); “new computers and technology equipment” (without a description as to where those computers will be placed or for what purpose); or “for school improvements to all district facilities” (with no other description). All of these questions failed.

 

 

The New Jersey School Boards Association collects sample ballots for all second questions in the Annual School Election. School boards that would like sample ballots faxed or e-mailed to them can call the NJSBA Communications Department at (609) 278-5202.

 

 

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