GR School Board Election Moved, No Public Vote on Budgets Within Cap

Glen Rock's  voted Monday to move the school board election to November and eliminate a public vote on the district budget, provided it stays within a state-mandated tax levy increase cap.

The resolution in effect also extends the terms of current board members, giving members up for re-election in April – Barbara Steuert, Gene Calderon and Terry Moore another – an additional time of eight months.

to require that all boards to comply with a November switch. Not quite in line with his vision, toward the end of the lame duck legislative session the Assembly passed a bill allowing boards to make the decision individually. Scores of boards across the state hurriedly drafted resolutions in support.

Proponents say moving to November should spur greater voter turnout and provide financial relief to the taxpayers, which no longer have to fund separate elections. But it eliminates the only budget taxpayers get a direct say on, one that represents about 65-70 percent of their local taxes.

"It's an important change, I think it's a constructive change," said member Sheldon Hirschberg in support of the resolution. "I feel that as long as we can follow the state mandates and manage our affairs in a fiscally prudent manner that we should have the ability to have the same right that our municipal government has, our county government has, our state government has and our federal government has."

Trustee Gene Calderon took pains to say that eliminating the public budget vote doesn't mean the public is cut out of the process.

"One of the things we need to point out here is this – we still go as a board to the public in discussion in terms of a budget," he said. "That does not go away – we still discuss the budget."

Calderon remarked that he appreciated voter input. "To lose your voice in terms of not to express your opinion on the budget, I would say no. You can still discuss this."

One resident, however, objected to Calederon's statements.

"When taxpayers are given two minutes to make any comment they want on the budget – a , 65 percent coming out of my pocket, that is not the same as getting the chance to vote," said John Hahn, who later accused members of 'hiding'. "I think you're really deluding yourself that you think people are going to come here at a quarter of 11 on a Monday night so they can talk for two minutes about a budget."

Although the resolution passed easily, 7-2, not all board members favored the change.

"This is so new, I'm just not that comfortable voting so quickly on what I think is a major change," commented member Randi Rubinstein. "I would rather wait and see how it goes in other districts."

"I'm torn," member chimed in. Although the board's newest member said she agreed with some of the points made by those voting yes, she also felt there wasn't enough information. Moore also wondered how much time the average resident really spends poring through the budget and candidate platforms. 

There were still logistical questions to be worked out with the ballot, conceded BOE President Rona McNabola. She cited the the need to separate the non-partisan elections with general elections as a challenge that awaits.

Further, although the voter turnout is above state average in Glen Rock, McNabola remarked that number will be voting in the November election and may not be paying attention to the school board candidates with the bigger-ticket items on the ballot.

Should the budget exceed the 2 percent cap, residents would have the opportunity to vote on the budget. The change will be in effect for four years.

Hirschberg, who's working with administrators on introducing a rough draft of the 2012-2013 budget, said getting under the cap for the upcoming year shouldn't be a problem.