Annual School Election 2010:
Economy Limits Second Ballot Questions

The difficult economy continues to affect school budgets, as only six New Jersey school districts have proposed additional school-funding questions for the Annual School Election this month – 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. Today, 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 have school elections asking voters to approve a base budget, which must remain within a state-imposed 4-percent property tax cap. School boards can present one or more additional ballot questions asking voters to fund specific projects or staffing positions, which gives 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 with general-fund second ballot questions this year include:

• Medford Lakes, Burlington County: To help offset pay-to-play sports fees;
• Brielle, Monmouth County: To retain programs such as full-day kindergarten, technology instruction, enrichment and band;
• Boonton Township, in Morris County: For non-mandatory “courtesy” busing;
• Madison, in Morris County: Junior school sports and a visual and performing arts supervisor;
• Stanhope, Sussex County: Restore the technology program; and
• Sparta Township, Sussex County: One question to restore 10 teachers, another to restore co-curricular/athletics programs.

The combined cost of all six districts’ additional ballot budget questions, if approved, would be $2,075,048.

Bond Questions The Annual School Election is also one of the dates throughout the year when school boards can propose referendum questions on construction projects. On April 20, voters in seven New Jersey school districts will act on $69.9 million in proposed school construction.

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.

Of the total amount that is being requested on April 20, 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.

The remaining dates for school bond elections this year are Sept. 28 and Dec. 14.

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. The three districts are Weymouth Township in Atlantic County; Woodlynne in Camden County; and High Bridge in Hunterdon County.

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