Hopewell Valley school budget defeated

Spending plan falls for first time in 11 years.

By: John Tredrea
   Voters on Tuesday soundly defeated the Hopewell Valley Regional School District’s proposed $68.7 million budget for 2006-2007.
   With just over 18 percent of the district’s registered voters casting ballots, the budget was defeated by 407 votes — 1,548 to 1,141. The defeated spending plan was up 6.58 percent from last year’s budget.
   It was the first time since 1998 that a Hopewell Valley budget has been defeated. Under state law, the budget will be forwarded to the Valley’s three municipal governments, which in a joint public session will have the option of cutting the budget or leaving it intact. If the municipalities do not agree on the budget by May 19, the decision will be made by the state commissioner of education.
   Three Hopewell Township school board candidates and one Pennington candidate, all running unopposed, were elected to the board.
   From the township, incumbent Linda Mitchell landed a second three-year term with1,280 votes. Newcomer Jeffrey Bartolino also won a three-year term, with 1,354 votes. Incumbent Wener Graf, who was appointed to the board in October to replace Michael Bruno, received 1,286 votes to complete the last year of Mr. Bruno’s unexpired term.
   Kevin Doran of Pennington landed another three-year term with 303 votes.
   See this week’s Hopewell Valley News for details.