Spotswood school tab defeated once again
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD - The proposed school budget has once again been rejected by voters, but officials found some solace in the slimmer margin of defeat.

Residents voted 448-382 against the 2006-07 budget proposed by the Board of Education. The spending package will now be sent to the Borough Council, which can either order a cut in the tax increase or leave the budget alone.

The council last year ordered a $300,000 cut, which the school board accepted, though members expressed displeasure with what they believed was too large a reduction.

Board President Alan Bartlett, who was re-elected Tuesday with 579 votes, said he feels the council's cut actually brought more people out to vote in favor of the budget this year. Last year, the budget was voted down but by a margin of more than 200 votes, with fewer people coming out to the polls.

Bartlett credited this year's tally with the work done by parents groups that tried to spread the word about the need to support the budget.

"It was an eye-opener when they saw the council's $300,000 cut last year," he said, referring to the reduction as "devastating."

This year's proposed school tab of $21.7 million includes a tax rate increase of 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, meaning the owner of the average home would pay $252 more in school taxes next year.

"We were disappointed [with Tuesday's vote], but somewhat encouraged that 200 more people supported us," he said. "We hope to use that as leverage with the council."

Spotswood's school budget has been defeated by voters every year since 1994.

Bartlett noted that the board already made cuts during this year's budget discussions, such as eliminating the high school auto shop program and reducing the full-time food preparation teacher to part-time.

Board Vice President Richard O'Brien, who was also re-elected, with 593 votes, said that aside from the budget situation, the board also has to deal with the need to improve district curriculum.

"We need to improve technology offerings and preparing kids for the workplace," he said. "We also need to challenge kids at all levels."

Bartlett and O'Brien ran uncontested in the election. Both terms are for three years.

There are about 4,700 registered voters in Spotswood, and 830 cast ballots Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, we still get a small amount of people coming out to vote," Bartlett said.

Regardless, both men were pleased they received the votes.

"It's always wonderful that people took the time to vote for you," O'Brien said.

"They probably thought they were voting for my wife," he joked.

"While a loss is always disappointing, we're encouraged by the fact that a lot of people saw the value of what we're doing," Bartlett said. "People are realizing these cuts in education are really starting to affect the classroom."