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New Law Blocks Approval of Most Schools’ Second Ballot Questions

TRENTON, April 16, 2008 — While a wide majority of proposed school district base budgets gained voter approval on Tuesday, only four (or 12 percent) of the 33 proposed second-ballot finance questions were successful, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association. Second ballot questions seek authorization of spending beyond the state’s 4-percent tax-levy cap

Last year, voters approved 45.9 percent of such questions.  The major factor in this year’s low level of approval is a new requirement that 60 percent of participating voters act affirmatively on the questions. Had the 60-percent rule not been in place, 11 additional second ballot questions would have passed on Tuesday.

The same law that established 4-percent cap on increases in the tax levy also established the 60-percent majority requirement.

The supermajority requirement also had a chilling effect on the number of such questions put before voters in the April 15 Annual School Election, as 28 school districts proposed 33 additional ballot questions on Tuesday—the lowest number since the current system of second ballot questions was established a dozen years ago. Last year, 65 school districts proposed 87 additional spending questions.

School boards may present voters with one or more additional ballot questions, which must specify the program or positions to be funded.

Rejected second-ballot questions Unlike voter-rejected base budgets, defeated second ballot questions do not undergo review by the municipal governing body; the voters’ action is final.  Therefore, unless there is a donation or outside funding, the specific program or staffing in the second question is lost for the year, and the school board cannot transfer money within the budget to fund that program or service. 

Non-Monetary Questions Voters in two districts acted on proposals to change the number of members on their local school boards. Voters in Frenchtown, Hunterdon County , approved a change from nine to seven members, and voters in Plumsted Township , Ocean County , approved a change from five to seven members.

In addition, there was a recall election for a member of the Hardyston Board of Education in Sussex County . The board member was removed from office.

Unofficial Results: Second Ballot Finance Questions

Annual School Election, April 15, 2008

Statewide total: 28 districts with 33 questions

• 60% of participating voters must approve proposal
• In school districts marked with asterisks (*), questions were approved by a simple majority of voters, but not by the 60-percent supermajority needed for adoption.

Bergen County – All Failed

Cresskill

Fair Lawn *

Hasbrouck Heights (2 questions)

Hillsdale

Lyndhurst *

Park Ridge *

Ramsey

River Vale*

Saddle Brook

Westwood Regional*

Camden County

Somerdale – Failed

Winslow Township – Passed

Essex County

Bloomfield – Failed

North Caldwell – Passed

Gloucester County

East Greenwich Township * – Failed

Washington Township – Passed

Monmouth County – All Failed

Millstone Township

Wall Township

Morris County – All Failed

Boonton Town (4 questions)* -- one of four attained simple majority, but not the necessary supermajority

District of the Chathams *

Mount Olive *

Ocean County – All Failed

Berkeley Township

Brick Township (2 questions)

Jackson Township

Lacey Township*

Passaic County

Hawthorne * – Failed

Sussex County

Hardyston Township – Passed

Warren County

Great Meadows Regional – Failed

Note: The list above only includes second-ballot questions, which seek voter approval of expenditures above the state-imposed 4-percent tax-levy cap. The list does not include bond referendums for construction projects, or non-budget questions such as proposals to change the number of members on the school board.

All results are unofficial.

The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.