Voters OK most school budgets Officials crediting Corzine's aid plan Thursday, April 17, 2008 • BY JOHN MOONEY • Star-Ledger Staff Facing some of the lowest school tax increases in years, New Jersey voters on Tuesday approved nearly three-quarters of local school budgets statewide, according to preliminary results. The 73.5 percent passing rate in nearly 550 districts was down from 2007, but a little higher than the average for the last decade and better than expected in the midst of an economic downturn. Local and state officials placed much of the credit on Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to add $533 million in school aid to an otherwise austere state budget, helping keep down local property tax hikes. New state limits also capped most budgets to limit tax increases to no more than 4 percent. State officials said the average increase across New Jersey was just under 3 percent. "Given the state of the economy and the state's own fiscal condition, I think there is a great deal of relief," said Kevin Ciak, president of the New Jersey School Boards Association and a Sayreville school board member. "It certainly could have been a lot worse." The budget votes were political fodder in Trenton as well. State Democratic chairman Joseph Cryan cited the results in praising Corzine and the Legislature for the controversial new school-funding formula. "A 75 percent approval rate in the midst of a national recession is a real statement of success," said Cryan, a state assemblyman. Municipal leaders, meanwhile, said Corzine should next restore money cut from his budget for cities and towns. "The math is simple," said William Dressel, executive director of the state League of Municipalities. "Significant state property tax relief funding equals decreased tax burdens and increased citizen satisfaction." Whatever the message, Tuesday's turnout was again paltry, with just 14 percent of all registered voters casting ballots, pretty typical for New Jersey's school elections. "This is a slight improvement, but it's clear that more voters need to exercise their responsibility and participate in the school budget process," state Education Commissioner Lucille Davy. The fate of school budgets varied widely across the state, with only about half of Middlesex and Hunterdon counties' districts seeing their budgets pass, while a vast majority passed in Union, Sussex and Morris counties. In 28 districts, voters also rejected all but four of 33 separate ballot questions that would have allowed for extra spending above the tax cap for programs like full-day kindergarten and courtesy busing not otherwise required by the state. The second questions needed 60 percent backing of the voters for approval, and the school boards association said that in 10 of the failed measures, a majority backed the proposals but fell short of the needed 60 percent. Forty-five of the second questions passed last year, without the supermajority rule. None of the 11 second questions passed in Bergen County, including two in Hasbrouck Heights. All failed in Morris, Ocean and Mon mouth counties as well. The votes on the second questions are final, with no chance for appeal or restoration. Overall budgets that are rejected go next to the local municipal council, which may -- but is not required to -- make cuts. In addition to the budgets and second questions, voters approved 12 of 15 bond referendums for new school construction and other facility improvements. The projects totaled $93 million in projects, including renovations to three schools in Weehawken and solar energy systems in Lawrence and Stafford. John Mooney may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com, or 973-392-1548. © 2008 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.