Princeton Residents Pass School Budget, Elect 3 to Board

Princeton voters have approved the district's total 2011-12 budget and elected three members to the board of education. 

Voters approved the budget by a total vote of 1179-342, according to unofficial tallies from clerks in both  Princeton Township and Princeton Borough. 

Princeton Borough voters approved the levy by a vote of 308-115. 

Princeton Township voters approved the levy by a vote of 871-227

Daniel Haughton and Timothy Quinn have been reelected to three year terms on the board of education. Afsheen Shamsi was elected to a three-year term on the board. 

Haughton received 846 votes, Quinn received 293 votes and Shamsi received 754 votes. 

No other candidates were on the ballot. 

The Princeton Regional Schools total budget is $80.28 million, an amount that includes spending  for federally funded programs and repayment of debt. 

The tax rate will be 99.91 cents per $100 assessed valuation in the borough and 94.61 cents per $100 of  assessed valuation in the township. 

A house assessed at the Princeton Borough average of $747,795 will be taxed an additional $97.69. A house assessed at the Princeton Township average of $827,065 will pay an additional $102.92.

The district’s budget will fund three positions at the high school to address overcrowding, but no money for capital improvements beyond those deemed critical for health and safety. 

Also missing are requests for classroom technology. Within the next year, the district  plans to launch a private campaign to raise money from parents, alumni, foundations and corporations in the hopes of raising $2.5 million, Superintendent Judy Wilson has said. 

Haughton, 60,  an internet software executive, lives on Finley Road and has been a township resident for 29 years.

Quinn, 53, a public information director, lives on Wilton Street and has been a borough resident for 21 years.

Shamsi, 35, a consultant, lives on William Patterson Court and has been a township resident for five years.