Will you be voting in the School board election Tuesday?

by: Jason Springer

Mon Apr 20, 2009 at 05:43:15 PM EDT

Every year since 1977, voters have approved most of the budgets requests. Voter turnout rarely goes much above 15 percent.

Most school budget requests pass; 73.6% across the state last year. This is where our money's going. Why is there a disconnect with so little attention towards the schools?  Here's a table of school budget pass rates for the last few years:

Annual School Budget Election Results by County
 Percentage of Budgets Approved, 1998-2008

	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998
Atlantic	66.7	88.9	44.4	76.5	52.9	72.2	44.4	55.6	88.9	77.8	72.2
Bergen	78.4	86.5	75.7	86.4	82.7	71.6	83.8	93.2	97.3	90.5	71.6
Burlington	69.2	78.9	43.6	71.8	53.8	48.7	69.2	84.6	89.7	82.1	66.7
Camden	63.2	55.3	42.1	47.3	65.8	44.7	46.2	69.2	95.0	85.0	62.5
Cape     May	76.5	88.2	64.7	76.5	70.6	70.6	68.8	100.0	94.1	70.6	81.3
Cumberland	73.3	80.0	53.3	80.0	73.3	60	73.3	86.7	73.3	73.3	80.0
Essex	81.3	85.7	81.3	75.0	81.3	87.5	93.8	93.8	93.8	100.0	81.3
Gloucester	63.0	74.1	37	63.0	59.3	55.6	44.4	74.1	85.2	81.5	63.0
Hudson	66.7	83.3	16.7	66.7	50	50	66.7	42.9	71.4	71.4	85.7
Hunterdon	55.2	72.4	51.7	55.2	75.9	34.5	53.2	72.4	79.3	79.3	82.8
Mercer	75.0	75.0	75.0	62.5	62.5	87.5	62.5	100.0	100.0	87.5	87.5
Middlesex	56.5	69.6	34.8	65.2	65.2	82.6	56.5	60.9	87.0	78.3	43.5
Monmouth	74.1	68.5	38.9	69.1	68.5	66.7	66.7	77.8	74.1	70.4	81.5
Morris	87.2	84.6	53.8	85.0	74.4	84.6	76.9	84.6	84.6	92.3	87.2
Ocean	75.9	79.3	58.6	75.9	75.9	65.5	69.0	96.6	96.6	89.7	65.5
Passaic	61.1	55.6	27.8	66.7	55.6	22.2	33.3	77.8	83.3	61.1	72.2
Salem	76.9	84.6	46.2	69.2	61.5	23.1	38.5	53.8	61.5	84.6	76.9
Somerset	73.7	76.5	57.9	52.6	68.4	63.2	52.6	84.2	84.2	89.5	73.7
Sussex	92.0	96.0	76.0	88.0	72	72	80.0	100.0	92.0	92.0	96.0
Union	89.5	78.9	57.9	73.7	84.2	52.6	73.7	78.9	100.0	73.7	63.2
Warren	82.6	95.7	56.5	69.6	69.6	69.6	69.6	73.9	95.7	87.0	91.3
RESULTS	73.6	78.3	53.4	70.7	69.8	62.2	65.4	81.1	88.0	82.8	74.4

Source: New Jersey Department of Education, with updated information from county clerks.

Many districts are seeking smaller budget increases than in past years. Here's a webcast on how NJSBA views the 2009 budget landscape.

So, some questions for you: Are voters in your town paying more attention this year to the school election, given the current economic climate. Because in Evesham, I'm not hearing much.  And most importantly: Will you be voting on Tuesday? And if not, why not?