School budgets take hit in local districts

The vagaries that make up New Jersey's school budget voting experience were on full display in the April 17 school election. There really is no logical way to account for school budget votes from year to year.

This year, for example, both school districts covered by the Suburban saw their proposed budgets for the 2007-08 school year go down to defeat. The budgets will now be reviewed by the municipal governing body in each community and the school districts face possible reductions in personnel or programs.

In the cases of both Old Bridge and Sayreville, the school budgets were defeated by margins of a couple hundred votes, and in each case, less than a fifth of registered voters took part in the election. While 17 percent of Sayreville's registered voters cast ballots, a mere 8 percent of Old Bridge residents voted.

The low turnouts and small margins of defeat are no reason for the governing bodies to turn their heads - they have to cut the budgets and reduce the school tax increases, which are proposed at an average of $156 in Old Bridge; $122 in Sayreville. Simply put, the voters did not accept those hikes.

But the constant tax increases, and the lack of participation in the school elections are both symptoms of a statewide problem. And right now there is no more important piece of business for state education officials and legislators to address than a new school funding formula. Many New Jersey residents are taking a double hit when it comes to school taxes - paying high property taxes to support their own school district and seeing little in return from Trenton in the form of local state aid, while they watch and seethe as tens of millions of tax dollars are being poured into New Jersey's Abbott districts - the 31 school districts regarded as the state's poorest.

The inequity that once existed among New Jersey's school districts has been turned on its ear. In some cases Abbott districts now outspend more affluent districts, thanks to the largess of the state's taxpayers. Is there any reason for an Abbott district to spend $19,000 per pupil while a suburban district in Middlesex County spends $10,000 per pupil? Which one is the real underfunded district?

(Hint: Not the Abbott district)

Gov. Jon Corzine has said there will be a new school funding formula in place for the 2008-09 school year. We hope the governor's recuperation from his recent motor vehicle accident will not stall progress on the most important issue New Jersey faces at the present time.