Tax levy approved by almost a 2-1 margin
By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Hillsborough voters returned true to historical form Wednesday by endorsing the township school’s $110.7 million budget for 2011-12.
Judy Haas led all six candidates for the three three-year board terms and easily won election to a third term. She had 2,016 votes, winning in each of the eight polling places.
Former board president Chris Pulsifer ran second with 1,578, and Jennifer Haley will also take a seat with 1,357. They each ran second or third at each poll.
Frank Herbert registered 1,124 votes, David Wald 950 and Marissa Sladek 760.
Wolfgang Schneider and Neil Hudes had declined to run again.
Voters in each of the eight polling districts approved the $77.4 million tax levy by about 2-1 margins that totaled to 2,203 votes for the levy and 1,146 against.
Board President Steve Paget said he thought the board put forth a responsible budget and thanked the Hillsborough Education Association for making contract concessions that helped save more than $2 million and avert privatizing up to 270 non-teaching jobs.
The HEA agreed to pay 12 percent of health care premiums in 2011-12 and 18 percent in 2012-13, while accepting small raises.
Even so, the board had refused to rule out returning to the privatization option, had the budget been defeated.
Last year, the budget was soundly defeated, but, in the previous five years, it had been accepted.
About 12.7 percent of the township’s 25,100 registered voters cast ballots.
The board will reorganize Monday night at 7:30 at the Auten Road Intermediate School. Dr. Paget expressed a hope his colleagues will return him as president.

