Voters Strike Down School Budget by 6-Percent Margin

Manchester voters defeated the school district's 2011-12 budget tax levy Wednesday, rejecting a plan that would have increased property taxes $54 per year — based on the average assessed home value of $194,100 — while also promising to maintain school staff and programs.

Tallies from the Ocean County clerk's office show that the budget was voted down by 241 votes, or a 6-percent margin. According to county data, 1,896 residents, or 47 percent, voted in favor of adopting the budget, while 2,137 residents, or 53 percent, voted against it.

A call to the office of Superintendent of Schools David Trethaway for reaction has not yet been returned.

On Wednesday night, a faulty transmitter led to the delay of reporting Manchester's votes to the county, said township clerk Sabina Skibo.

County and township budget tallies differed by 320 votes, though the margin of defeat for the budget remained the same.

According to deputy clerk Jodi Pellicano, the set of data produced by Manchester did not include absentee ballots, as those votes are mailed to county election officials. The data released by the county is final and does include those votes, she said.

Three candidates ran unopposed for as many seats on Manchester's Board of Education.

According to the county, incumbents  and  received 2,552 and 2,496 votes, respectively, while newcomer  received 2,634 votes. Write-in candidates received 112 votes.

Walter has announced she will step down from her role as board president when the body reorganizes in May.

Turnout appears lower than last year, as county records show 8,047 of Manchester's approximately 42,000 residents voted for board of education members in 2010, compared to 7,794 in Wednesday's election.

County records show that in 2010, 6,768 residents cast a ballot for the budget, which was defeated. Wednesday's election saw 4,033 residents participate in the budget question.

In 2009, 4,600 residents voted for board of education members and 3,341 voted on the budget.

The results are also in for Lakehurst, according to the Ocean County Board of Elections. With 100 percent of votes counted, Lakehurst residents have approved the borough's 2011-12 school budget, which does not have an increase in the tax levy.

Joann Septor and Joseph J. Hanily were elected to the Lakehurst Board of Education. Septor had 46.88 percent of the vote, Hanily had 47.77 percent and 5.36 percent went to write-in candidates.

An evening survey of local polling places found not many voters out at the Ridgeway Fire Co. on Ridgeway Road, Manchester Volunteer Fire Co. on Commonwealth Boulevard or Manchester First Aid Squad on Colonial Drive.

Voters reported no lines at any of the stations.

Pat McGinn, a Seaside Heights teacher who has lived in Manchester for eight years, came to Ridgeway to vote in favor of the budget.

"I'm a teacher and I think it's important to give the students as much help as we can," she said.

McGinn said that she was not pleased with the proposed tax increase, but still supported the budget.

"We have to raise children who will one day run our country," she said, adding that her grandson will go through Manchester schools.

Sue Decker, who has lived in Manchester for 50 years, said that she was supporting the budget simply because "education is important."

"I don't think I've ever missed a school election," she said.

Pellicano said that no problems at the polls had been reported Wednesday afternoon and that she believes the traditionally low voter turnout for school elections should keep things running smoothly.

"I don't foresee any problems," she said, adding that all of the polling machines are handled by the Ocean County Board of Elections and operated by trained workers.