Stockton also is asking for an additional $20,000 for new playground equipment.
By: Mae Rhine
There are contests for seats on boards of education in four of the five local school districts that may spark voter interest in the election Tuesday.
For the South Hunterdon Regional High School Board of Education, there are six candidates for the three available three-year terms. Incumbents Douglas Coleman, representing Lambertville, Kathleen Brown, representing West Amwell, and Morley Panyko, representing Lambertville face challengers Richard Anthes and Veronica Geyer of Lambertville and Nicole Claus of West Amwell.
The district’s $6,933,138 proposed budget includes a tax rate of 96 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. A Lambertville resident with a home assessed at the average $177,256 would pay $1,702 a year. In Stockton, the owner of a home assessed at the average of $166,262 would pay $1,154, based on a tax rate of 69.4 cents. In West Amwell, the owner of a home assessed at the average $266,984 would pay $1,815 based on a rate of 68 cents.
For the Lambertville Public School Board of Education, incumbents Ed Berchtold, Mary Shurts and Steve Wolock are being challenged by Elaine Warner and Ms. Geyer for the three three-year terms available.
The $2,353,384 total proposed budget carries a tax rate of 60 cents. The average assessment of $177,256 means $1,064 a year in school taxes.
For Delaware Township School Board of Education, incumbents Cynthia Sulewski, Fred Strackhouse and Kate Bailey are being challenged by Carol Pulkowski for the three three-year terms available.
The tax rate would be set at 75 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in the proposed budget, which totals $4,940,056. School taxes would be $2,378 on the average assessed value of $317,103.
For West Amwell Elementary School Board of Education, incumbents Jennie Aversa and Rob Tomenchok face a battle from Pamela Errickson and Alan Albanir for the three three-year terms available.
The proposed budget of $2,479,574 carries a tax rate of 78.6 cents. Based on the average assessment of $266,984, that would mean $2,099 a year in school taxes.
Finally, for the Stockton Elementary School Board of Education, there is no contest for the one available seat on the board. Andrew Dougherty is unopposed for that three-year term.
The proposed budget of $418,608 carries a tax rate of 92.4 cents. Based on the average assessment of $166,262, that would mean $1,536 a year in property taxes.
If a question is approved that asks voters to approve spending an additional $20,000 for new playground equipment, that would increase the tax rate to 93.353 cents or $1,552 a year.
Voting is from 3 to 9 p.m. in all districts.
Voting in Delaware Township is at the Sergeantsville Fire Company on Route 523. Voting in Stockton is at the firehouse on Mill Street.
Voting in West Amwell is at the municipal building at 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road. Voting in Lambertville for the first and second wards is at the YMAC, 60 Wilson St. The third and fourth wards vote at the Columbia Fire Company at 177 N. Union St.