Millstone officials counter vote with yes, no, yes, yes
Committee overrides public decisions, restores failed budget and more
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

Three Millstone Township Committee members decided the ultimate fate of the proposed $30.3 million school budget and three additional funding questions that all failed with voters on April 17.

In a room overflowing with parents and teachers on May 2, the Township Committee voted to restore the budget and two of the three other requests for funding. Deputy Mayor Robert Kinsey was not present at the meeting. Committeeman Steven Sico recused himself from the budget review because his wife works in the school district as a nurse.

The passage of the budget without any cuts will result in a 20-cent increase in the tax rate, which will now amount to $1.98 per $100 of assessed value. The two other restored questions will add about 1 cent more to the tax rate, making it approximately $1.99 per $100 of assessed value.

The first question, which asked voters to approve a $24.8 million tax levy to fund the 2007-08 school budget, failed during the election in a vote of 885-797. The budget funds school operations and includes salaries, benefits, transportation, special education, energy and maintenance costs.

During the committee's budget review, school officials told those present that the school district would have to "cut" sports and extracurricular activities if the budget wasn't restored. Middle school and elementary school students would have to "pay to play" sports and to participate in after-school activities at a total cost of $53,000, school officials said.

Mayor Nancy Grbelja said the close vote in the election indicated to her that people wanted the township government to review the budget, which she did.

While approximately 1,600 residents voted in the election, the general budget failed by 88 votes. There are 6,428 registered voters in Millstone.

Grbelja said she reviewed the budget and was satisfied with answers she received from the school district's business administrator, Brian Boyle.

Committeeman Elias Abilheira said he had gone through the "inches of documents" the school district provided about the budget "with a fine-tooth comb." While he said he would have allocated some of the funds differently, he said, "I think I would violate the trust that residents put in me when I was elected if I [voted] to cut the budget. I think it would be harmful to the town."

Committeeman Ramin Dilfanian said he saw "no fat" in the budget.

The three committee members voted unanimously to pass the first question.

Voters defeated the second question - whether to establish a full-day kindergarten program in the township at a cost of $399,987 - in a vote of 1,107-564. This question would have added 2.8 cents to the tax rate but would have allowed the district to start the program by providing benefits and salaries for three teachers and four instructional aides, and furniture and instructional materials.

Abilheira said it troubled him to see that the school district has already created facilities for the kindergarten program at a "significant hit to taxpayers." He said residents who may need the program the most may also be those who cannot afford an alternative program for their children.

Dilfanian called making a decision on the second question "tough" and "challenging," but noted the proportion of residents who voted against the question in the election.

Grbelja said she believes residents "came out and said "no" to the program. She said the Township Committee would be abusing its power if it restored the question. The question failed with the Township Committee in a 2-1 vote with Abilheira casting the sole vote for restoring the program.

The third question concerned hiring a middle school technology teacher at a cost of $69,781. Voters turned the question down in a 939-732 vote. The 2004 middle school referendum provided funding for furniture and curriculum for the new technology classroom, but did not include funding to hire a teacher. Without a teacher, the new classroom would not be used.

Abilheira said taxpayers already spent money for the classroom and in his decision about the current question he had to consider the voters who passed the initial referendum for the creation of the facility.

"To leave the classroom empty would be a bigger waste of money," he said.

The committee voted to restore the question in a 2-1 vote, with Grbelja casting the vote against it.

The fourth question concerned the purchase of language arts textbooks to replace 10- to 12-year-old books, at a cost of $78,700. Voters turned the question down in an 844-827 vote.

Abilheira said this question was difficult for him to decide. He said the school district could use handouts and blackboards and he ultimately voted against purchasing the books.

Grbelja said seeing this question posed outside of the general budget question made her unhappy.

"Literacy is extremely important," she said. "When I started teaching, we had no books. That's not the way things are today."

Grbelja said she taught for 17 years, and currently works for the New Jersey Education Association. She and Dilfanian voted in favor of restoring the textbook funds, so the question passed with the committee in a vote of 2-1.

Board of Education president Mary Ann Friedman called the governing body's decision to restore the budget an affirmation of the fiscal responsibility the board and school administration exercised.

"We're very grateful they could restore three of the four questions," she said.

Friedman continued, "I'd love to see the full-day kindergarten restored, but I understand the dilemma they were faced with. I'm very appreciative of what they did tonight."

When asked for comment on the votes and if he could discuss how he would have voted if given the opportunity, Sico said, "I have no comment until I can answer without a conflict."

Kinsey did not respond to request for comments prior to press time on May 8.