At the Jan. 18 meeting, members of the Middletown Township Board of Education unanimously agreed to adopt a resolution that would move the election from April to the general election in November.

 

In addition, the law, which was signed by Gov. Chris Christie the day before, would not require a public vote on the annual school district budget as long as it does not increase more than 2 percent over the previous year.

 

 “I just really want to make sure that we keep up our fiscal responsibility and come in as low under 2 percent as we can to keep faith in the community,” board President Joan Minnuies said.

 

“I think that the biggest point is, if we’re fiscally responsible and we come in under 2 percent, we don’t have to worry about the budget being defeated and having to cut programs on kids.

 

“This really is the most beneficial thing to the kids. We won’t have to worry about the budget defeats and we won’t have to worry about the cuts,” she added.

 

Board Administrator Amy Gallagher said the district would save approximately $40,000 by not holding the April elections.

 

“They haven’t issued all the guides yet, but if you are going to exceed the cap, that would have to go out to the voters. Referendums would still go out to the voters. And any second questions for supplemental things to the budget would still go out to the voters,” she added.

 

 In 2011, 6,539 voters passed the district’s $123.79 million budget by a slim 125-vote margin. A year earlier, the $122.25 million 2010-11 budget failed by a 5,389 to 7,334 vote.

 

Voters also rejected the school budget in 2006.

 

Board Vice President Chris Aveta, who serves on the finance committee, said the 2012-13 budget process is under way.

 

“I know that this board is committed to staying under the 2 percent cap. We do recognize our responsibility in delivering the best education possible to all students in Middletown,” he said.

 

The board’s move comes after bill A4394 was passed in the New Jersey Legislature by an overwhelming majority: 34-3 in the Senate and 62-11 in the Assembly.

 

Middletown Township Public Schools Superintendent William Georgesaid protecting the budget would directly help the students.

 

“In essence, what the Legislature has said is, ‘We know, based on fiscal accountability ratings, that these districts are fiscally prudent,” George said.

 

“We know that. And the fear is that if the elections continue and [budgets] are just voted down on the premise of ‘We all want lower property taxes,’ that it would have serious educational ramifications.”

 

Although the board’s organizational year will change from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, the fiscal year will remain July 1 to June 30.

 

“It gives me the opportunity to work with the board for one full year, since I started on Dec. 1. I think that gives us as a school community the opportunity to get the most done, and I’m looking forward to that,” George said.

 

Board Attorney Christopher Parton said the budgetary process would still occur in the same time frame, including state deadlines in April, despite the election move.

 

“The entire [budget] process remains the same. Exactly what the 2012-13 budget is will be known by late April or early May,” he said.

Parton said all board terms would be automatically extended until voters cast their ballots.

 

“By the operation of the law, since the election does not happen, they are seated until the next election. So they’ll stay until January,” he said.

 

In November, Minnuies, Michael Donlon and Leonora Caminiti are up for re-election.

 

Additionally, Sue Griffin and James Cody, who filled unexpired terms of resigning board members, will be listed on the November ballot.