Plan to fund computers, intramural sports turned down
By:Melissa Edmond
The Township Committee agreed with Hillsborough voters and turned down the additional school taxation plan in a resolution passed on Tuesday.
"Voters approved the school budget plan that raises property taxes by 7.5 points, but then sent a loud and clear message against the additional taxation by voting ‘no’ on the second question," Committeeman Dr. Steven Sireci said. "I believe the Township Committee should respect the decision of the voters."
Township voters approved the $61.8 million school tax plan at the April 19 school election by a vote of 1,853 to 1,693.
They defeated the second question, which would have added $261,416 more to the tax bill by a vote of 1,957 to 1,574.
Board of Education members Chris Pulsifer and Steve Sloan met with Township Committee members May 3 to discuss a way of either getting all or some of the funds that were previously rejected.
The school district was looking to spend the additional money to buy 150 computers, add athletic programs and intramural sports at Auten Road, Hillsborough Middle School and Hillsborough High School.
The committee found that the $61.8 million was sufficient to provide a thorough and efficient education.
"When the voters speak as emphatically as they did on the second school tax question, we should listen," Committeeman Anthony Ferrera said.
Members of the school board and school district accepted the committee’s decision as best as they could.
"One of the things that concerns me is there are political pressures from Trenton to try to curtail expenditures on local school level," said Michael Detsis, a former candidate for the board. "There’s always more that we could spend but we need to respect what voters decided."
Mr. Sloan thanked the committee for looking the second question over.
"The majority of the public disagrees with the necessity of this funding," he said. "I felt that $260,000 was not that much money. We’ll have a good year in Hillsborough nonetheless without these items."
Looking forward, Mr. Sloan said the school district has some other challenges a facility referendum that the committee can hopefully support in the fall.

