CENTRAL JERSEY: Budgets, board candidates on election ballot Tuesday

By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
   Voters will decide the fate of school budgets and school board candidates Tuesday.
   In Cranbury the polls will be open from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., with all voting taking place in the senior room in the basement of the Town Hall, 23 N. Main St.
   Three candidates — incumbents Lynne Schwarz and Austin Schraudenbach and newcomer Nicole Pormilli — are running unopposed for three three-year seats on the school board. School board President Joan Rue is not seeking re-election.
   Residents will have their say on the proposed $17.6 million budget, which translates into a 1.6 percent increase in the tax levy.
   If approved, the budget would set the tax rate at 90.95 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $636,540 will pay $5,789 in school taxes for the 2009-10 schoolyear, an increase of about $349, according to Joyce Picariello, school business administrator.
   In Jamesburg, the polls will be open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Borough Hall, 131 Perrineville Road.
   Three candidates — incumbents Ted Somers and Darren Larsen and newcomer Robert Czarneski — are running unopposed for three three-year seats. Anne Toth is not seeking re-election. A one-year unexpired term also is on the ballot. Karen Zimmerman, who was appointed to the seat last year, is not seeking election.
   Residents will vote on the proposed $12.457 million budget, which is 1.5 percent larger than last year’s.
   The spending plan carries a school tax rate increase of 3.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to $2.863. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 would pay approximately $4,294 for the 2009-10 schoolyear, up about $49.50 from last year. Voters will decide whether or not to approve this $6.624million tax levy.
   In Monroe, polls will be open from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m..
   Four candidates — incumbents John Leary and Marvin Braverman and newcomers Mark Klein and Anthony Prezioso — are seeking three three-year seats. Incumbent Rita Ostrager is not seeking re-election.
   Residents will have their chance to vote on the $100.43 million budget, which is $3.38 million larger than last year’s $97.05 million budget.
   The plan will increase the school tax rate by .038 cents to $2.06 per$100 of assessed valuation, up from the current year’s $2.03. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $168,100 will pay $63.88 more than they did last year.
   The polling places in Monroe are as follows:
   • District 1: Encore Monroe, Brookside Drive;
   • Ward 1, Districts 2, 3, 4, 5: Rossmoor Clubhouse, Rossmoor Drive;
   • Ward 1, Districts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10: Clearbrook Cultural Center, Ardmore and Halsey roads;
   • Ward 1, Districts 11, 12: Monroe Township Fire and EMS Facility, Center Drive;
   • Ward 1, District 13: The Ponds Club, Waterside Boulevard;
   • Ward 1, District 14; Ward 2, District 10: Applegarth Middle School, Applegarth Road;
   • Ward 1, District 15: Monroe Village, David Brainerd Drive;
   • Ward 2, District 1; Ward 3, Districts 4, 9: Woodland School, Harrison Avenue;
   • Ward 2, District 2; Ward 3, Districts 6, 8: Brookside School, Buckelew Avenue;
   • Ward 2, Districts 3, 9, 11, 12: Whittingham Towne Center, Whittingham Drive;
   • Ward 2, District 4: Monroe Township Library, Municipal Plaza;
   • Ward 2, Districts 5, 6, 7, 8: Concordia Clubhouse, Clubhouse Drive;
   • Ward 3, Districts 1, 3: Monroe First Aid Building, Monmouth Road;
   • Ward 3, Districts 2, 5, 7: Monroe Township Community Center, Monmouth Road;
   • Ward 3, District 10: Regency Clubhouse, Country Club Drive.
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