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P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI |
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CONTACT: Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org) Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org) (609) 278-5202 Annual School Election 2010: Few Districts Propose Second Ballot Questions TRENTON, April 13, 2010 —The difficult economy continues to affect school funding requests, as only six New Jersey school districts have proposed additional school-funding questions for the Annual School Election this month, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today. Of the 538 school budgets that voters will decide on April 20, boards of education in only six school districts will present voters with second ballot questions to exceed their proposed base budgets – the lowest number ever. Up to three years ago, it would be common to see 60, 70, 80 or more of such second ballot questions asking voters to spend beyond state caps. However, fewer of the questions are being proposed due to the poor economy, state restrictions, and school boards working to maintain control of taxes in a difficult year. About 90 percent of New Jersey’s school districts ask voters to approve a base budget, which must remain within a state-imposed 4-percent property tax cap (plus any adjustment allowed by the state). School boards can present one or more additional ballot questions to fund specific projects or staffing positions, giving voters the opportunity to approve spending that exceeds the cap – but which the community might find important. A law enacted in 2008 requires a 60-percent supermajority of participating voters to approve a second ballot question. Last year, 11 school boards had second ballot questions, and all failed. Had the 60-percent rule not been in place, five of the 11 second questions would have passed. No other public question in New Jersey, not even a Constitutional amendment, requires approval of a supermajority of voters. The six districts that have general-fund second ballot questions include Medford Lakes (Burlington County); Brielle (Monmouth County); Boonton Township and Madison (Morris County); Stanhope (Sussex County); and Sparta Township (also Sussex), which has two additional questions. The combined cost of all six districts’ additional ballot budget proposals is $2,075,048. Bond questions The Annual School Election also serves as one of five dates during the year when school boards can place construction bond referendums on the ballot. On April 20, voters in seven districts will decide proposed school construction questions. Unlike second questions, bond referendums require only approval by a simple majority of voters. Bond referendums are proposed in Springfield Township in Burlington County; Lawnside in Camden County; Bloomfield in Essex County; North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional and Tewksbury Township, both in Hunterdon County; Brick Township in Ocean County; and Union Township in Union County. The total amount of proposed school construction in the seven districts is $69.9 million. Of that, nearly $24 million would qualify for state funds, either through one-time school-construction grants, annual “debt service aid” payments to school districts, or rebates through the state’s Clean Energy program. Non-monetary questions School boards may also present voters with non-monetary questions in the Annual School Election. Voters in three school districts will decide whether to reduce the size of their school board from nine members to seven members: Weymouth Township in Atlantic County, Woodlynne in Camden County, and High Bridge in Hunterdon County. Rejected budget and second-ballot questions If voters reject the base budget, the proposal is reviewed by the municipal governing body, which may make cuts or leave the budget intact. Current law provides a process for a school board to apply to the commissioner of education for restoration of a municipality’s cuts to a defeated base budget, but only if the cuts would prevent the school district from providing an adequate education or if it would undermine the district’s financial stability. Budget appeals are rare; there were none in 2008 and two in 2009. If voters reject a second ballot finance question, however, the issue does not go to the municipal governing body for review and there is no appeal; the voters’ word is final. Unless there is outside funding, the specific program or staffing proposed by the second question is lost for the year and the school board cannot transfer funds within the budget to retain the program or position. Summary of Additional Ballot Finance Questions (“Second Ballot Questions”) Voters in 6 school districts will act on 7 second ballot questions asking for spending that would exceed to the state-imposed 4-percent cap on the tax levy. The districts include:
Source: New Jersey School Boards Association Annual School Election
Number of additional ballot questions proposed, 1997-2009: 2009: 11 2008: 33 2002: 99 2007: 87 2001: 91 2006: 72 2000: 100 2005: 73 1999: 92 2004: 75 1998: 104 2003: 89 1997: 176
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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. ###
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