School Budget Voting Day

Last year 86% of registered voters in New Jersey did not cast a ballot on voting day for school budgets and seats on the Board of Education and you can expect similar numbers today. Voters in Ocean County and throughout the state have the option of participating in the process and despite all the attention paid to education and spending most people will not bother to vote for a variety of reasons including apathy, frustration and laziness.

Budget increases have been held down for the most part as school districts work harder and harder to present spending plans that are lean and mean. The public may still view them as excessive but the fact of the matter is that most of the figures in the budget are built in and not negotiable. Districts are trying different methods of achieving success including Brick Township which is offering residents a chance to not only vote on the budget but several other spending items being treated as separate items from extracurricular activities to roof repairs.

Of course we in New Jersey still deal with the fact that property taxes fund education and while we’re told relief is on the way we don’t believe it. So as costs go up so do our taxes and many take out their frustration on the one day they can and automatically vote down budgets…it’s just the way it is.

I’m encouraged to see many indications where towns and districts have been pro-active in seeking support of their budget. More and more superintendents and Board of Education members go around and speak to PTO’s and other groups, explaining the numbers and the process. Parents of school-age children are getting involved in protecting what they have and what they need to make their schools and district stronger. Here’s hoping that time and effort pays off.

On an unrelated note I can’t let go by. Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano released highly regarded recruit Reggie Dixon from the national letter of intent he signed last month. The action came after ESPN reported that the Plainfield High School standout was found guilty last summer of two counts of aggravated sexual assault and had to register under Megan’s Law. Schiano said Rutgers was aware of the conviction when they recruited Dixon but would not comment on why they released him. You think it might have something to do with ESPN reporting the story, especially in the wake of what happened with the women’s basketball team recently?