Friday, April 20, 2012
With most districts waiting till fall, voter indifference marks holdouts’ approval of spending plans.
In the first break from New Jersey's traditional spring school elections, just 70 districts went to the polls on Tuesdays, these holdouts from a switch to November hearing resounding approval for their budgets -- at least from the tiny fraction that actually voted. Voters in 63 of the 70 districts deciding on annual budgets gave approval, a 90 percent passing rate that was highest in recorded history for the state. Across New Jersey, close to 60 percent of all voters sided with their local budgets, according to preliminary figures. But while statewide turnout numbers have yet to be compiled, those also looked close to a record -- going the other way. In Bergen County, where 20 districts’ budgets were up for vote and all passed, just 10.9 …
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The majority of districts are making the cost saving move from April to November.
The Holmdel Board of Education voted 8-0 Wednesday to move school board elections from April to November to coincide with the General Election. It means that for the next four years, Holmdel voters will see school board candidates on the November ballot. It also means they won't vote on a school budget anymore, provided the tax levy remains at, or below, the two percent cap. And the district will save money. "Every dollar counts, and we need to be fiscally responsible," said member Ana Vander Woude. The New Jersey School Boards Association reports that a day before the Feb. 17 deadline, around 64%, or 342 out of 538 New Jersey school districts, have passed resolutions to move the election to November. Although candidates names will appear …
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Holmdel Board of Education
67 McCampbell Rd, Holmdel, NJ
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Resolution is on the BOE meeting's agenda for Wednesday Feb. 15.
After discussion at its retreat earlier this month, the 9-member Board of Education plans to vote on a resolution tonight to move the school board member election from April to November, to coincide with the General Election. If it passes by majority vote, the move will eliminate the annual voter referendum on the proposed general tax fund levy, provided the tax levy does not grow higher than two percent cap. The budget would still have to be approved by the board, and pass muster with the State Dept. of Education and the Executive County Superintendent. A public budget hearing would still be held on March 26, 2012. According to Board President Barbara Garrity, moving to the November election would yield a better voter turnout, save about…
Tony Orsini
10:02 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I have nothing but the utmost repect for Ray Tai and Mike Sockol. We have a great BOE, and Ray is probably correct in stating politics, to some unpreventable degree, hopefully minor, will come into play. Ironically, the BOE may have made their job tougher, but they know this. My only fear is that this ushers in more knee jerk NAY votes which may mean, long term, there goes the schools, there goes… more ›