Voters to determine fate of school tab

Voters to head to the polls on Tuesday, April 19.

By: Josh Appelbaum
   Voters will get their say Tuesday on next year’s school budget and elect three school board members.
   Incumbents Elizabeth Silverman, Frank Ransegnola and Kenneth Griffin are seeking the three, three-year seats on the board unopposed.
   The $15.6 million school spending plan includes a $12.4 million tax levy, which is what goes to voters.
   The proposed budget includes a 1.1-cent tax rate decrease from last year despite a 16 percent increase in overall spending.
   The increase in spending is largely offset by a 7.7 percent increase in taxable property in the township, which will drop the tax rate to $2.18 per $100 of assessed valuation for the 2005-2006 school year. Assessments increased from $545.329 million in January 2004 to $587.018 million in 2005.
   
   If voters approve the levy, the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $225,000 would pay $4,905 in school taxes, a $22 decrease from 2004-2005.
   The spending increase is being driven by enrollment growth. Estimated enrollment for 2005-2006 will increase by 24 students at Cranbury School, while an estimated 21 more Cranbury students will be sent to Princeton High School.
   Tuition to Princeton High School will increase by 4.5 percent, meaning Cranbury will pay $14,044 per student, up from this year’s figure of $13,456. Cranbury will spend a total of $3.3 million on tuition for students at Princeton High School.
   Salaries and wages, which will increase 8.27 percent next year to $5.3 million, make up more than one-third of the operating budget. That includes a contractual 5 percent increase plus enough money to cover additional staff, if needed.
   Voting will take place 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the basement of Town Hall, 1 School House Lane, in the recital room.