By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Township voters were in no mood for a property tax rate increase, and defeated the Lawrence Township Board of Education’s proposed $67.1 million operating budget for 2012-13 by a margin of 212 votes Tuesday.
The voters were asked to approve a $58 million tax levy to support the spending plan, but voted it down with 1,982 votes against it and 1,770 votes for it. This is the second time in 12 years that the school budget has been defeated. The last budget defeat occurred in 2004.
The school district budget was seeking a 3-cent increase in the school property tax rate, from $2.33 per $100 of assessed value to $2.36. School district officials had emphasized that the increase was due to a decline in the township’s ratables base, which had declined by $38 million last year because of property tax appeals.
School district officials also pointed out that the increase in the tax levy was $500,000 less than the allowable 2-percent increase in the property tax rate. State law would have allowed the tax levy to rise to $58.5 million, but the district asked for $58 million.
Meanwhile, voter turnout was 19 percent as nearly 3,800 voters of the 19,450 registered voters in Lawrence went to the polls. Turnout for a school board election has ranged from 5 percent to 19 percent in recent years.
Some poll workers noted a steady stream of voters all day, and speculated that it was the Lawrence Township municipal government’s request for a 9-cent increase in the municipal property tax rate which drew them out. The municipal question was on the same ballot as the school board election and tax levy question.
Laura Waters, the president of the Lawrence Township Board of Education, and Superintendent of Schools Crystal Lovell were clearly disappointed by the voters’ rejection of the tax levy for the 2012-13 district budget.
”We are disappointed, but we understand the voters’ sentiments. There was voter anger at the municipal budget. I think we were collateral damage,” Ms. Waters said.
Ms. Waters was referring to the municipal referendum seeking a 9-cent municipal property tax rate increase in addition to the 5-cent increase in the 2012 municipal budget that was on the same ballot, and which was turned down by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
Now, school officials will work with township officials to present the defeated budget to Township Council as required under state law. The council will review it and identify budget items that can be cut and the amount of the reduction.
A resolution must be prepared by Township Council that includes a recommended property lax levy, and a statement that the recommended budget reductions would not affect the stability of the district or its ability to provide a thorough and efficient education for the children.
”We will work closely with Township Council to arrive at mutually acceptable numbers. The school board Finance Committee meets Thursday, and we will start working on it,” Ms. Waters said.
Dr. Lovell said she, too, was disappointed.
”We worked really hard,” Dr. Lovell said. “We did not cut any positions or cut any offerings. Now, we will wait and see, and work with Lawrence Township.”
