Majority of NJ school districts face rejected budget proposals

As school districts across New Jersey sought to raise what are already among some of the nation’s highest property taxes as an alternative to cutting programs and laying off teachers for the upcoming school year, voters responded with a resounding "no." For the first time in three decades, a majority of the proposals — 58 percent — were shot down, according to the NYTimes and BusinessWeek. Still, many municipal councils have decided to approve their budgets with minimal changes.

In Princeton, the budget proposal was approved with moderate opposition. Princeton Regional Schools’ budget passed with 67 percent of the vote though it called for a 3.9 percent tax increase to sustain its $71.5 million plan, according to the BusinessWeek article.

A detailed breakdown of the Princeton Regional budget can be found here, and more information on the statewide situation can be found at the New Jersey School Boards Association homepage.

by Jason Jung