Public Hearing, Vote to Determine Fate of School Votes

Chathamites concerned with the elections can make their opinions known Monday at 7 p.m. at the meeting.

Gov. Chris Christie allowing school budgets to adhere by the same rules governing municipal budgets, removing them from the public vote if taxes are within the cap. The move can be made if the school board or municipal governments approve it, or if the public approves it by a vote. For this year, a decision must be made by Feb. 17.

"There were very few nay votes on this in the legislature," said Dennis Fyffe, interim superintendent of the School District of the Chathams, "and Christie, who has made schools a major focus of [his first year] as governor, supported this and signed it without hesitation. ... He signaled very early that he was more than willing to support it."

As currently drafted, the Finance/Facilities resolution on Monday's agenda will move school elections to coincide with the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Those board members whose terms were set to expire in May will have their terms extended to January 2013, if the resolution passes.

If the board passes the meeting, the annual school budget not be subject to a public vote if it is under the tax levy cap. By law, the district cannot raise local property taxes by more than 2 percent each year, with allowances for such expenses as rising health care costs and population growth.

In 2011, for example, the and was within the cap and permited allowances. In 2010, before the tax cap was reduced to 2 percent, the .

Since the Chatham Borough and Chatham Township school districts merged in 1988, the school budget has never failed in a public vote.

Also on Monday's agenda are several field trip destinations for students, spring enrichment courses at and a donation from the PTO of $492 for the purchase of Primacolor Magic Rub Erasers.

The Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Chatham High School auditorium. The meeting will open with the chance for the public to comment on the proposed resolution moving school elections to November.