Voters will weigh in

A good indication of whether New Jersey voters have reached the breaking point may be delivered next week on school election day, April 16, when residents head to the polls to vote on the only budget it is within their power to ap-prove or reject.

Garden Staters don’t vote on municipal or county budgets; however, they have the power to approve or reject the budget proposed by their board of education.

In addition to voting on budgets, residents also elect the members of their local school board.

This year, the increase in property taxes that is being proposed by local school boards is shocking. Hikes proposed by individual school boards in western Mon-mouth County are running anywhere from 7 cents to 20 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

Several factors have combined to lead to this situation. A drop in the value of school district investments combined with a freeze on state aid to local school districts are two reasons why property owners will be paying more of the bill.

Despite those factors, western Monmouth County continues to see an influx of residents that has added hundreds of children to our school districts. Building schools to keep up with the enrollment boom also accounts for some of the property tax increases.

If school board budgets are defeated in record numbers on April 16, local and state political and education leaders will have a clear indication that changes must be made in the way New Jersey funds its system of education.