Credit: (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)New Jersey voters were mixed on whether they want to raise taxes or borrow money to increase funding for their local school systems in the 11 school districts that brought the question to voters.
Requests to raise taxes focused on money for additional school security in several districts, which would result in a permanent increase in the school tax levy. Another common ballot question asked voters if they wanted to issue bonds to pay for school construction or renovations. In these situations, the state is responsible for 40% of the cost. The total borrowing proposed was around $132 million, with the portion coming from the state expected to be close to $50 million, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.
The votes come as many school districts say they are facing tight budgets due to how schools are funded in the state, rising costs of health care and other benefits, and the end of federal COVID-19-relief funding.
School board elections typically have low voter turnout, and these ballot questions were no different. Several were separated by less than 100 votes based on unofficial results. More districts voted yes than no on additional funds for schools.
School security measures
Four towns voted on additional funding for school security, which is a priority for many school administrators this year. Several New Jersey school districts received threats at the start of the school year following a school shooting in Georgia.
In Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County, a measure to raise the taxes above the 2% cap to pay for school security is losing by 97 votes in unofficial results from the Nov. 5 election. The school board asked voters to raise an additional $180,000 in school taxes for the current school year to hire, equip and train special law enforcement officers at two schools.
A similar question seems poised to fail in Downe Township in Cumberland County. Unofficial results show a 97-vote margin for no. The school board asked voters to raise an additional $100,000 to hire an armed security guard for the current school year.
In North Haledon in Passaic County, voters agreed to raise an additional $525,000 for the current school year to enhance and maintain school security systems, equipment and personnel. The measure would allow the district to maintain security staff at each school building.
In Medford Township in Burlington County, voters seem poised to reject additional funding for school security with 17 of 18 election districts reporting unofficial results. The board asked voters to raise an additional $6,825,000 for the current school year to pay for increased security measures and mental health support services in all district schools.
School construction
All the ballot questions that asked voters to issue bonds to pay for school renovations seem on track to win based on unofficial results.
In Delanco, also in Burlington County, a measure to issue bonds to pay for school construction and improvements has a considerable lead with 71.43% of election districts reporting, according to the county clerk. Voter approval would authorize the school board to upgrade the HVAC system and complete a partial roof replacement at an elementary school.
This means issuing up to $3,529,500 in bonds for the improvements. The state would be responsible for 40% or about $1,411,800.
In Franklin Township in Hunterdon County, a measure that would appropriate money for renovations and upgrades at the Franklin Township School is leading by 25 votes in unofficial results. The $2,823,592 appropriation would be used to renovate restrooms, the main office, the nurse’s office and to install an emergency generator and repair the parking lot. The board would issue bonds equal to or less than $2,823,592 and the state would be responsible for $1,129,436.
In Manalapan-Englishtown in Monmouth County, voters agreed to issue up to $115,378,211 in bonds for school. In unofficial results with every election district reporting, 60% of voters said yes to renovations at several schools including an addition to Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School. The state would be expected to contribute $36.7 million, according to the district.
In Hopatcong Borough in Sussex County, voters approved a bond proposal for $9,897,300 to fund renovations and improvements at four schools, according to unofficial results. The state would be responsible for $3,958, 920 of the total sum.
Other questions
In South Brunswick in Middlesex County, a public question that would raise an additional $350,000 for the current school year appears on track to fail with every election district reporting in unofficial results. The money would have been used to pay for recreational usage of district facilities, such as tennis courts and the track.
In Florham Park in Morris County, the school board asked voters to raise an additional $459,548 for the current school year to fund basic skills instruction and create a supervisor of mathematics position. There were 89 more yes votes in unofficial results as of Nov. 6 at 11:36 a.m.
In Mountainside in Union County, unofficial results show that voters approved an additional $396,000 for the current school year to pay for an additional three teachers and benefits, one part-time curriculum coordinator, contracted mental health support and after-school academic support.
