Election May Be Just Beginning of New Jersey's Budget Process.

Byline: Peter J. Sampson

Apr. 21--Across New Jersey on Tuesday, a fraction of the state's voters took part in an annual rite of spring -- deciding the fate of 550 public school budgets with a combined property tax levy of more than $9.5 billion.

Last year, 15 percent of registered voters approved 62 percent of school budgets statewide, the lowest approval rate since 1994. The percentage of passing budgets has been falling sharply since it peaked at 88 percent in 2000.

In Bergen County, 71.6 percent of the school levies passed last year, down from 97 percent in 2000, while 22 percent were approved in Passaic County, 50 percent in Hudson, and 84.6 percent in Morris, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Voters in 60 districts, including 14 in Bergen County and four in Passaic, also decided on Tuesday the fate of 75 finance questions on the ballot. These questions seek voter authorization for specific expenditures that would bring the district's base budget above the state-imposed 3 percent cap on spending growth. Increasingly, districts are relying on such approvals just to maintain existing staff and program offerings, as well as to keep courtesy busing and make needed repairs.

When voters reject a school board's proposed budget, they are actually sending it for review to another group of elected officials, the municipal governing body. Municipal officials have the power to trim the budget and suggest areas to be cut. They may also leave the budget unchanged.

State law allows a school board to file an appeal with the state commissioner of education if its finds that municipal cuts to a defeated budget would prevent it from providing an adequate education.