Schools

MERS School Board Elections Moved to November, Budget Vote Eliminated

A combined election means decreased costs and an increase in voters for school board elections.

On Tuesday, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a bill which allows municipalities the option to move school board and school budget elections to November and dispense of budget elections if the budget abided by state restrictions, and on Tuesday night the Board of Education decided to do just that.

Business Administrator and Board Secretary Veronica Wolf quickly composed a resolution which moves the school board elections to November and eliminates the budget election entirely.

The new law states that a school budget does not require a vote by the public as long as it is beneath the statutory limit imposed by the state of New Jersey, which is currently a 2 percent cap.

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All present members of the Board of Education unanimously approved the resolution; Board Member James Mumolie and Board Member Annamarie Galante were absent.

"The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education has determined that the statutory restrictions on the local levy tax increase for annual school appropriations is appropriate and sufficient to control and maintain a thorough and efficient education for the children of Manalapan and Englishtown," the resolution reads, later adding that dispensing of school budget elections will save taxpayers money.

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By adopting a resolution to move the election to November and eliminate the annual school budget vote, the district agrees to abide by the resolution for four years, according to the law.

Additionally, all Board Member terms will be extended to November, including those who were up for reelection in April - who are Board Member Joseph DePasquale, Board Member Annamarie Galante, and Vice President Lori Semel.

The purpose of combining the school board elections with the general election in November is too increase voter turnout and decrease costs.

Statistically, not many people go out and vote in school board elections, therefore placing the option on the November ballot guarantees more votes since a greater amount of citizens vote in the General election. 

"We usually get six to seven percent voter turnout, well now at least we'll break 15 to 20 percent," DePasquale said.

Also, two elections will not have to be paid for with taxpayer money. The cost of the election will be split among other entities since the election will be shared, saving the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District funds.

"I think we work really hard to give a good budget to the voters, I think the fast is that the threat of a defeated budget is always looming when we do a budget - I think that we will have a better budget now that we don't have to worry about that," Board President Michelle Stipelman said.

In terms of school board elections, Stipelman said that she hopes more voters now will attend "Candidate's Night" and get to know who is running since they will need to vote for the candidates at the general election.

With the Board elections now in November, the Board of Education reorganization will take place at the Board's first meeting in January.


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