Poll: Should Hillsborough Move School Elections to November?
The district is the only one in Somerset County to have not changed balloting.
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At the Jan. 14 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of School Jorden Schiff outlined the arguments that persuaded him to recommend Hillsborough move school elections to November.
One of the reasons mentioned is that Hillsborough is now the only district in Somerset County scheduled to have a school election in April.
Sometimes it's good to stand out of the crowd, but Dr. Schiff doesn't believe this is one. He said moving the election means more voter participation in the election of board members, helps school officials planning budgets and eliminates the costs associated with the separate spring polling.
But some say the main reason to keep voting in the spring is to continue voter approval of annual school budgets. If the elections are moved, voters would only cast ballots on budgets exceeding the tax cap limits in place (currently 2 percent). Budgets under the cap are automatically OK.
And, supported of sping voting add, having the separate election means voters are focused on schools at election time, not distracted by the noise of the flashier, noisier political campaigns.
The board will have to decide in the coming weeks whether or not to change the election date, but what do you think? Is it a good idea—or does it disenfranchise your vote on school spending?
Take our poll and add your comments in the box below.
Michael Dean Lewis
8:21 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I know whom I'll vote for in the next Board election.
Rich Lane
9:32 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Only people who don't want it moved are educators, like the fire dept vote they want to stack the deck in favor of themselves, not the voters. The budget process really is a non-issue which has been pointed out by many, voters reject, goes to twp for recommendations, they are told what the low hanging fruit is, remove the token 1.5 million and then back tot hte BOE and it's passed. Same as fire vote, only fire dept people come out for that and of course the budget gets approved. One day one vote and stop trying to block the people from voting. Give us a national day to make decisions at all levels.
iam655321sir
10:05 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Will those who just whimper about everything ever stop degrading and belittling those who bust their behinds to make this a better place to live?
Let's shut down the public schools and allow each and every parent to find and pay for their own educational needs, and let's shut down the volunteer fire departments, so we can allow each homeowner to contract for their fire service.
Really Rich! hundreds of brave men and women have laid down their very lives for your right to vote and you find it inconvenient to go three time a year. Oh dear!