NJ School Elections on Tuesday

School budgets and board members on the ballot in some districts

Residents in some New Jersey school districts will vote Tuesday on school budgets and school board members.

But because of a change in the law, the elections are not what they once were.

The majority of schools have quickly moved school elections to November. Under a new law, doing so spares them from public votes on their budget plans so long as they keep tax increases under a 2 percent cap.

Only 73 districts will put their spending plans to votes on Tuesday.

Two municipalities, Lawrence and Medford, will hold votes on Tuesday asking taxpayers to approve raising taxes above the cap.

On Monday New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney introduced legislation to close a loophole that allows local officials to bypass a 2 percent annual cap on property tax increases.

The proposal would stop municipalities from reclassifying certain services, such as trash collection, as user fees. Those fees don't count against the 2 percent cap under current law, which lawmakers approved in 2010. The previous cap was 4 percent.

“A `user fee' for a municipally provided service is just another way of saying `tax,' and these attempts to get around the property tax cap are disingenuous and detrimental to homeowners,” Sweeney said.

The Senate president said his legislation would make it clear that shifted services are still subject to the cap.

It's unclear how soon his proposal will come up for debate.

Tuesday’s school election poll hours vary by district, but polls may be open between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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