Trenton, April 12, 2024 – When voters head to the polls on April 16, they will vote on school related questions.
Statewide, the New Jersey School Boards Association has learned of four school districts with questions on the ballot.
Middlesex County
The New Brunswick Public Schools is seeking authorization to raise $37,113,400 for the general fund for the ensuing school year, 2024-2025.
Monroe Township School District has a question on the ballot that would raise an additional $2,769,586 for general funds for the ensuing school year (2024-2025). These taxes would be used exclusively for the retention of courtesy busing (per N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1 students who live less than two miles in grades K-8 and less than two-and-a-half miles for students in grades 9-12), after-school busing, athletic transportation, school-sponsored co-curricular/extracurricular activity expenditures and school-sponsored athletic supplies and materials. The separate proposal also includes the addition of one autism teacher, one autism paraprofessional, one ESL teacher, one ESL paraprofessional, one business teacher, one technology education teacher, one security officer, design of roof replacement at Mill Lake Elementary School, and phase two of the special services parking lot refurbishment. Approval of these taxes would result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. These proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
Sussex County
Byram Township School District has a question on the ballot that asks voters to approve raising $1.7 million as a permanent addition to the budget to help offset S-2 funding cuts made over the last several years. Here is the wording:
“RESOLVED that there shall be raised an additional $1,177,986 for General Funds beginning in the 2024-2025 School Year. These taxes will be used exclusively to pay for salaries and benefits of staff members in order to reduce and maintain class sizes by maintaining teaching staff members, and instructional aides as well as restoring four full-time teaching positions. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. The proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards.”
Union County:
The Westfield School District is seeking to raise an additional $1,675,397 for general funds in the same school year (2024-2025). These taxes would be used exclusively for the retention of three elementary teachers, two intermediate teachers, two high school teachers, and health benefits for the seven current staff members. This proposal also includes the addition of one supervisor for the Special Services Department, one assistant buildings and grounds supervisor, two maintenance/groundskeepers, one high school teacher for additional electives, funding in the amount of $125,000 to enhance the stipends in the paraprofessional contract, three enrichment/intervention teachers at the elementary level, three part-time security guards for the schools, and health benefits for the eight additional staff members. Approval of these taxes would result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. These proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
Historical information on school construction proposals in New Jersey is available on the NJSBA website.