Letter to the Editor: 'No' May Not Mean What You Think

The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by Hillsborough Board of Education President Steve Paget. Along with the letter, Paget stated that although he is president of the BOE, the views expressed are his and not that of the board.

Dear Hillsborough residents,

On April 17, you will have an opportunity to vote on the proposed budget. I want you to know that in Hillsborough, we had a choice: to move the school election to November and skip the budget vote (unless it was over the state mandated cap of 2 percent); or to keep the election in April and retain the budget vote. Hillsborough is a member of the mere 15 percent of New Jersey school districts that have chosen to retain the budget vote, so I encourage you to participate in this important election. 

I believe the board has proposed a responsible budget to the voters this year.  Because our state aid did increase (in reality, state aid is our income tax money returned to us by the state; this year in a greater amount than usual) we are not going to the state mandated cap (the state has limited the local tax levee increase to 2 percent) and are actually under the cap by about $1 million.

In previous years we were limited to a 6 percent and then 4 percent cap and it was difficult to keep up with insurance cost increases that were at times more than 15 percent. Now, with the cap at 2 percent we are proposing a budget that is under even that. I would hope that you will appreciate the restraint exercised this year in developing a responsible budget. 

This budget has a lot we can point to as positive additions to the district: more money to capital improvements to keep the brick and mortar solid and the students safe; a return of the elementary language program (which is mandated by the state); technology and training for technology; and targeted class size reductions at the middle and high school levels. Last year the elementary level had class size reductions and we anticipate that next year’s class sizes will be smaller based on enrollment. 

It is important to note that these additions must be taken in the context of the staff reductions that happened two years ago. At that time, due to a severe reduction in state aid, 66 positions were eliminated which increased class sizes throughout the district, eliminated elementary language, and strained a system that was already streamlined. This budget puts positions back in place in a thoughtful, balanced way; not just rushing to get back to the same number. 

I would like to make something completely clear about the budget voting process. If the voters pass the budget then that is what goes forward. If the budget fails then the budget goes to the township committees (Hillsborough and Millstone get an equal say) and they must identify areas to reduce and tabulate that amount which gives the final budget number. That final number is given back to the board which then decides whether to cut in those identified areas or to look elsewhere in the budget. Voting “no” has historically meant the budget is reduced by about $1 milllion. Two years ago it meant a reduction of about $1.5 million. 

I would also like to clear up a misunderstanding. I have heard some people say that because we should have cut one program and not another, or perhaps they don’t agree with cutting teaching positions or library aid positions, they will vote no. If trying to get one thing over another is your goal then coming and making your case to the board is the way to go. A “no” vote, and failed budget, just guarantees that not only will your program be cut but the one you didn’t like likely would be cut also. 

A failed budget does not say, “we disagree with the priorities of your spending,” but is taken as a message to the township committee that “you are spending too much.” May I add that you will have a difficult time convincing the township committee that your “no” vote meant that you want them to increase spending (as some people have also said to me).

The board has passed this budget 9-0 which means a great deal from a board that has had some very lively discussions and close votes this past year. Therefore, I urge you to support this school budget on April 17.

Steve Paget