Florence defeats school plan

   Voters in Florence Township rejected a $18.4 million budget by a vote of 482 to 528.

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   Voters in Florence rejected a $18.4 million budget by a vote of 482 to 528.
   In addition, Mark Dimon, with 655 votes, Newell Kehr, 623, and Jean Shelen, 580, were elected to three-year terms on the school board.
   Voters also rejected three special questions, which would have brought the tax rate increase to 17 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
   If approved, the budget would have brought the school tax rate to $1.87, up from $1.72. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $110,400 would have paid $2,064, an increase of $163.
    The first of three special questions asks voters to approve an additional $53,340 for the re tention of a high school and middle school security staff member and two cafeteria moni tors. If adopted the increase would raise taxes half a cent.
    The second question asks voters to approve $122,767 to retain five special education classroom aides throughout the district. If adopted, the increase would raise taxes 1 cent.
    The third question asks vot ers to approve $59,726 to save co-curricular programs such as the Student Council program, the high school musical and pro duction of the literary magazine. If adopted, the increase would raise taxes six-tenths of 1 cent.
   The budget will now head to the Township Committee for review. The committee will either ask the district make cuts, or approve the budget without changes.