Voters approve $100.6 million school budget
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Voters approved the proposed $100.6 million school budget and a slate of new members for the Board of Education, Tuesday.
With 2,966 votes cast about 15 percent of the township’s registered voters the budget was approved by a margin of 1,543 to 1,423.
Board challengers Frank Blandino, John Donnadio and Gregory Gillette won three-year seats on the board. Mr. Donnadio received the most votes, with 1,543, followed by Mr. Blandino at 1,514, and Mr. Gillette at 1,388.
Current Board of Education President Ed Plaskon received 1,246 votes, while incumbents Judy Haas received 1,374 and Steve Sloan received 1,113.
"Obviously, I’m disappointed," Mr. Sloan said after the results were posted. "I didn’t take any financial contributions and my campaign was self-funded. However, I wish the winners well."
The budget totals $100,629,205, up 1.82 percent from last year’s $98.8 million budget, and includes $73,351,638 to be raised through local taxes, a $1,750,396 increase, 2.45 percent above last year.
The budget would increase the tax rate from $1.905 per $100 assessed value to $1.959. The owner of a property assessed at the township average of $350,000 would see a $189 increase in the school portion of the property tax bill, from $6,667 to $6,856.
The budget includes $354,771 to revise world language and science curricula in all grades, and money to add a new spelling program for grades three and four, and the Everyday Math program in the elementary schools.
"I’m thrilled the voters supported our efforts to continue quality education in Hillsborough," Superintendent of Schools Karen Lake said.
For more on the election, see Thursday’s Hillsborough Beacon.

