E.B. voters say no to school tax hike

Becker, Karp, Shaw re-elected along with newcomer Ryan

BY VINCENT TODARO

Staff Writer

The proposed school budget for 2006-07 was voted down Tuesday, meaning the East Brunswick Township Council will decide whether to cut the tax increase for the second straight year.

Voters rejected the budget in a narrow margin, with 2,297 against and 2,133 in favor.

The $122.2 million budget includes a tax increase of 21.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. An additional tax rate hike of 10 cents is related to debt service, and is not part of the budget voted on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, voters re-elected all of the incumbents - Vicki Becker, Dr. Susan Karp and Meredith Shaw to three-year terms on the Board of Education. This will be Becker's third term, Karp's second and Shaw's first full term. Shaw had been appointed last year to fill the seat vacated by Michael Danatos, who resigned one month into his second term.

Becker finished with the most votes, at 2,679, while Karp received 2,608, and Shaw, 2,286. Newcomer Jack Levitt was edged out with 1,985.

Longtime board President Michael Baker did not seek re-election this year.

Also in the election, Gene Ryan defeated Terrence Blackwell Jr. to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term previously held by Danato and then Shaw.

Ryan filed to run for the board, but had reportedly withdrawn from the race, though his name remained on the ballot. He is expected to serve the term.

Ryan collected 1,827 votes, prevailing over Blackwell's 1,009.

In all, 4,324 voters took part in the election, representing just over 15 percent of East Brunswick's 28,532 total registered voters.

Becker said the low voter turnout may be part of the reason for the budget's defeat.

"I always feel budgets are defeated by people who don't vote," she said, referring to the fact that many people who are not opposed to the budget fail to cast ballots.

District officials noted the budget's defeat was by a slim count of 164 votes, whereas last year's budget failed by more than twice that margin.

"I know we now have a lot of work ahead of us with the council," Becker said.

She said the board may have to do a better job of getting its budget message across to the public.

Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro issued a statement saying the budget is now in the hands of the Township Council, and that school officials hope the governing body recognizes there is "very little" that can be cut without having a negative effect on students' education.

Regarding her re-election, Becker said she is excited to serve a new term.

"I love what I do. I'm very grateful the voters have faith in me," she said.

Shaw also expressed gratitude with the voters' choices in the candidates race Tuesday.

"I'm absolutely thrilled," she said of serving her first full term.

But Shaw said the budget's defeat was a crushing blow because the tab is already bare. She said it is anybody's guess as to where cuts would be made, if ordered again by the council, but that such cuts would impact educational programs.

Karp was also pleased to be re-elected, saying she enjoyed her first term and feels that a board member's service can have a direct impact on people's lives.