BY LAUREN MATTHEW
Staff Writer
Old Bridge voters on Tuesday re-elected two longtime Board of Education members but defeated the board’s 2006-07 budget.
Voters gave current Board President Annette Hopman and veteran member Ellen McDermott new three-year terms, also electing newcomer Matthew A. Sulikowski.
The board’s $127 million budget was defeated by a narrow margin, with 1,986 votes against it and 1,175 in support, not counting absentee ballots.
“I’m just glad that it happened, and now we have a lot of work to do,” Hopman told the Suburban. “The public has spoken.”
At the public budget hearing in March, board members told concerned township residents that the increase in the budget could not be helped. Because of the size of the Old Bridge district, frozen state aid and the state’s S1701 legislation, which forced districts to cut surplus from budgets already approved by voters last year, the board said it had no option but to raise taxes. Each board member said the tax increase was a measure to keep education and programming as it is in Old Bridge.
Under the proposed budget, the school tax rate would rise 14.9 cents to support the general fund, with an added half-cent for debt service, making the total tax rate increase 15.5 cents. That amounts to an increase of $223 on the average township home, assessed at $144,000.
The total tax levy voted on in Tuesday’s election was $82,766,094. The general fund budget – the number voted on by the public – was set at $120,119,331. Special revenues comprise an additional $3,727,159, with debt service at $3,145,696.
Hopman said that central administration now has until Friday to present the budget to the Township Council for review. The council will have the option of ordering a cut in the budget or leaving it as is.
McDermott, happy about her re-election, said that the board is in the business of education, not creating jobs. And while she does not want to see the budget cut, she said she does not believe in putting unnecessary jobs into the budget.
The budget calls for six new teaching teachers at the middle school level, which officials said are needed to accommodate the recent schools realignment. A new physical education teacher is also proposed at the high school.
“If the council cuts [the budget], I will not appeal,” McDermott said, referring to the board’s option of appealing the ordered cuts to the county superintendent of schools.
The council and central administration, she said, will find areas of the budget that can be cut with the least amount of impact to students.
“Your priorities should be what’s happening in the classroom,” she said.
Superintendent of Schools Simon Bosco said that what happens with the budget now is dependent on negotiations with the council, but cuts could mean hits to school programs.
“Significant cuts will have an impact on services,” he said.
But, McDermott noted, she understands why the budget was voted down.
“People are saying, ‘Enough already,’” she said.
Mayor Jim Phillips said the board was going to have to “redouble its efforts” to lower the budget.
“Clearly … there has to be a better job [done],” he said.
The message voters have sent, he said, is that the council should trim the budget. The Board of Education and the council have until May 19 to do so, Phillips said.
The mayor’s involvement will be more as a moderator than a participant, as it is the council that votes on any cuts.
“I get to be a cheerleader in this,” Phillips said.
Hopman reiterated a stance that was part of her campaign platform. She said that with help from businesses and the township, the district could find new ways to bring in money. This partnering, she said, and shared services, is working for other districts.
“We can’t wait for other people to show or give us money,” Hopman said. “Old Bridge needs to start paying itself.”
Voters tended to support longtime board members at the polls. Hopman received 1,385 votes, while McDermott got 1,605. Incumbent Lawrence Redmond received 1,130 votes, which was not enough for him to keep his seat. Sulikowski was elected with 1,367 votes. Former Board of Education president Frank Weber received 1,268 votes. Alex Holodak received 695, and David L. Josselyn garnered 597.
Redmond said he applauds the efforts of the elected candidates, and that he feels the election results could be tied to the tax hike. He chaired the finance committee, which drafted the budget.
The board’s reorganization meeting will be held Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.