All You Need to Know About Washington Township School Elections

THE BUDGET

The Big Numbers: The school board is proposing a 2011-2012 budget of $39,418,849, with a local tax levy of $30,705,982. The tax rate would be $1.1352 per $100 of assessed valuation, up slightly from 1.131 in 2010-2011.  

What It Means for Your Tax Bill: If your home is assessed at the municipal average of $436,787, that tax rate translates to a yearly bill of $1,790 (not counting municipal and county taxes, which are set separately). That would be up 1.01 percent from the $1,770 such a home would have paid for 2010-2011.

What It Means For School Programs: While no curricular or extra-curricular programs are being cut next school year, officials say that two grade level sections

The History: The budget was defeated by voters in 2010, and had an additional $1 million taken from it when the Washington Township Committee made cuts. Prior to that, the bduget was approved by voters in 2007, 2008, and 2009. 

What Happens if Voters Shoot Down the Budget: It'll next go to the township committee for review. The committee can then make cuts, which it would send back to the school board to implement. The committee gets to decide how much money comes out of the plan; the school board gets to decide where that money comes from.

How To Learn More: Our previous coverage is a good place to start. See Typical Tax Increase in Washington Twp. Schools Budget: About $20 for more. Also, the full budget presentation from the school district is available as a PDF here. 

THE SCHOOL BOARD RACE

In the Running: Four people are running uncontested for four open seats on this year's ballot. They are , who was appointed to her current position in August 2010; , seeking his second term; , who was appointed to his seat in November 2010; and , the current board of education president. (Click their names to read profiles of each).

The Big Issues: Among the issues facing candidates include the possibility of obtaining additional revenue by changing infrastucture; and the idea of a super-regionalization with neighboring school districts. 

WHERE AND WHEN TO VOTE

Polls will be open from 7 a.m to 9 p.m on April 27. Locations are as follows: