Toms River Investigating Whether to Move April School Election to November
Superintendent says board counsel being consulted, while Business Administrator says $100,000 could be saved in election costs
Toms River Regional Business Administrator Bill Doering at the 2011 budget presentation.
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According to legislation signed by Gov. Chris Christie last week, school board elections normally held in April could be moved to coincide with the general elections in November. Either a school board or municipality can vote to make the switch, or voters can petition the municipality for a referendum on the prospect.
Toms River Regional School District did not use its regular meeting last week to vote on the matter, and instead will use the weeks ahead to investigate the measure's impact, said Superintendent Frank Roselli.
The legislation also states that if a school district is able to keep its proposed budget under the state-mandated 2 percent hard cap it would not have to put it up for a vote by the public.
Business Administrator Bill Doering also confirmed the district has begun discussing whether to move elections to November.
"The board began discussions and will have further discussions regarding the BOE election bill. I understand several districts have already approved moving the election to November, and several more will vote on it next week," Doering said.
The issue came up briefly during the executive session of the school board at its Tuesday meeting, but aside from committee meetings held in early February, the next school board public meeting will be Feb. 21.
However, Doering said the impact of a November election, which would bind the district to create a budget that grows less than 2 percent year over year, would aid in the school district's longterm planning.
"If the election is moved and there is no longer a vote on a budget under cap, that will help with longterm planning and financial stability," Doering said.
In the current format, all budgets go before the voters and risk being rejected. By allowing districts to move forward on budgets without voters, the budget would have to clear the school board members' votes only. Public hearings would still be held on the school budget.
Doering said the move to November would save approximately $100,000 in election costs, too.
However, it's premature to say what will happen in Toms River Regional. "As I said, the board will have further discussions regarding the BOE election bill before a decision is made," Doering said.
Roselli said the district is doing its "due diligence" now.
"It's a 30 page bill that was approved on Tuesday afternoon," Roselli said. "We need to give our counsel enough time to review it."
Moving an election to November is not something that should be done hastily, he said.
"That’s the kind of thing, everyone would agree, you have to do the due diligence," said the superintendent.
He did not say what his preference was, whether April or November, but mentioned there are definite advantages to a November election, simply for the cost savings of administering the election.
Right now the board has an overview of what the bill is about, and the administration is also reviewing it, he said. "The counselor is giving us the assistance to get the big picture," he said. "Let's not rush, but we will meet in the near future."
Election deadlines to file candidacy are in March for the April election. Roselli said Friday a timeline needs to be made, mindful of both the approaching deadlines but also to allow for a thorough investigation.
"Time is of the essence," Roselli said. "Several other districts have already made the decision to move."
Manchester, Barnegat and Central Regional school districts each decided last week to move elections to November.
Laurence Hecker
11:34 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Why does the Toms River BOE need an opinion from its attorney to decide whether to move the annual election to November? He wasn't elected, the board members were. Can't they make decisions? Other districts have. Please proceed to approve the move and save the money without referring the issue to your attorney or anyone else.
1stcav
11:39 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
If for no other reason it will save money , but I don't think any more will show up to vote than before..some have that civic duty and some don't. Counts how much is in the news to motivate people to get out & vote.Take it away and people would have mass demonstrations to regain there RIGHT to vote, but they don't / won't...what ever.You only miss it when you don't have it anymore ! I want ice cream, but the Dr. says no....I do miss it ! I want my Maypo!!
Marynary
11:49 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
This is the most important issue to effect voters and tax payers to be addressed, in years, in the Toms River School system. It will open up a window of honesty and give control of the school board back to the people who pay taxes thus pay all the bills for the Board of Education This BOE has for decades been the pawn of the members of the school system who created a voting block in a small non-userfriendly election.
I doubt the idea will get a thumbs up from the BOE. However it will surely show us all exactly what their sincerity level is.
Laci
1:30 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Of course more voters will vote in November as compared to April. Just the fact that you can start casting your vote at 7:00AM instead of 2:00PM is a difference of 7 hours. Look no further what the special fire election tried to pull off, yet failed, this past December when the vote could of been put to the voter 34 days earlier in November on election day.
bayway mike
2:58 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Just wondering how much this will cost the taxpayer during this investigation!!! It's a NO-BRAINER, if all elections are held at the same time and at the same place, it MUST say us a few $$$. If the B.O.E. , Fire districts, council members and whenever polls are needed, just put it in ONE election, WILL save us taxpayers..There will be no need to transport the machines to count our votes and there will be no need for those people to make sure that we are who we are when voting..The list is ENDLESS!! Thank-you for letting me vent!! :-)
Laci
4:06 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Probably the $100,000 that could be saved if the election was held in November according to the school business administrator. It shouldn't cost the BOE a dime to talk to each other or the boards attorney. If neighboring towns are making the switch what makes this town so special that a petition couldn't accomplish?.
T.R-Foodie
4:11 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Change is necessary. More people will vote since they are at the polling place for other important issues. Why does the BOE have to consult a lawyer other than to run up his bill?
Tired of the status quo
8:59 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
I could have not said that any better! The only thing that I personally don't like about this move is that we the taxpayers are unable to vote on the school budget. Some may say that we are being a little bit cynical but, when you see and hear all of what happened in this school district with the Ritacco mess one has to wonder how much "fluff" Mr. Doering and Mr. Roselli are trying shove down the taxpayers throats without the voice of the public. Oh, wait it just seems to be Ritacco all over again only with a different suit in the Supers chair.
1stcav
10:08 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
other districts did this already, so whats the hold up in Toms River ???? It better not be The BOE or the Township , just do it already, it will save time and money for the TAX PAYERS...I agree with Bayway Mike , just hauling those voting machines around for each and every vote is $$$$$$$ and people get confused when you change venue and times .Nov . for all voting for the year, get on the agenda or wait till next year...let it be said; let it be written and done !!!!! next case ;
Concerned
11:50 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
2% is still two.five million dollars without a vote. What about fire dist. Elections n budget r next month
joey
12:46 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
they should also move these fire dist budget and elections to November so that people know about them. That way not just the families and the members will vote and. The tax payers need to know about there little secrets.
Mr. ?
1:54 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
2% could be a 5% tax increase or more, AROUND the cap...the EXCLUSIONS, and that could be how much?.... of a tax increase allowed without a right to vote ?... 12.5 mil at Concerned's equation. Jackson Twsp just suffered a 7% increase in taxes and that was done within the cap! Wonder how their BOE will vote on this legislation?