Schools

April 27 Is Coming: Your Guide to Morris School District Elections

A $100 million budget is in play, along with three unopposed Board of Education seats.

THE BUDGET

The Big Numbers: The Morris School District Board of Education is proposing a 2011-2012 budget of $100,493,559. The tax rate for Morris Township would be $1.40 per $100 of assessed valuation. The tax rate for Morristown would be $1.27.

What It Means for Your Tax Bill: For a Morris Township home assessed at the municipal average of $390,000, the $1.40 tax rate means a payment of $5,460, up $189 from 2010-2011 (not counting municipal and county taxes, which are set separately). For a Morristown home assessed at the municipal average of $354,000, that tax rate of $1.27 translates to a yearly bill of about $4,496. That would be up $158 from 2010-2011.

Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What It Means For School Programs: The big cuts happened last year, which is why Schools Superintendent Thomas Ficarra has emphasized that "there will be no additional cuts this year to our programs." Funds would be restored to the summer school program, which took a heavy hit in the 2010-11 budget, but the program would remain at a four-day-a-week schedule.

Impact of the Tax Cap: For the first time, tax levies for school budgets are only typically allowed to grow up to 2 percent year-over-year. The law putting that cap into effect, however, allows certain exceptions for expenses such as healthcare and pension contributions. Even with those costs included, the tax levy is set to stay under the cap, at a 1.69 percent increase.

Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The History: Very good for proponents of the budget, as budgets passed in the Morris School District for years.

What Happens if Voters Shoot Down the Budget: It would next go to both Morristown council and Morris Township committee for review. They would then make cuts, which they'd send to the school board to implement. The governing bodies get to decide how much money comes out of the plan; the school board gets to decide where that money comes from.

 How To Learn More: Our previous coverage is a good place to start. See  and for more.

THE SCHOOL BOARD RACE

In the Running: Three incumbents are running unopposed for re-election: .

The Big Issues: Among the issues facing candidates are how to .

WHERE AND WHEN TO VOTE

Polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. on April 27. Locations are as follows:

District Location 01 Alfred Vail School, 125 Speedwell Ave. Room 114
02 Alfred Vail School, 125 Speedwell Ave. Room 114 03 Alfred Vail School, 125 Speedwell Ave. Room 114 04 Normandy Park School, Normandy Parkway, Library
05 Normandy Park School, Normandy Parkway, Library 06 Normandy Park School, Normandy Parkway, Library 07 Normandy Park School, Normandy Parkway, Library 08 Woodland School, 2 Johnston Drive, All-purpose Room
09 Woodland School, 2 Johnston Drive, All-purpose Room 10 Woodland School, 2 Johnston Drive, All-purpose Room 11 Thomas Jefferson School, James Street and Ogden Place, Auditorium
12 Thomas Jefferson School, James Street and Ogden Place, Auditorium 13 Hillcrest School, 160 Hillcrest Avenue, Hallway by Library
14 Hillcrest School, 160 Hillcrest Avenue, Hallway by Library 15 Hillcrest School, 160 Hillcrest Avenue, Hallway by Library 16 Sussex Avenue School, 125 Sussex Ave., Hallway
17 Frelinghuysen School, West Hanover Avenue, Girls Gym
18 Frelinghuysen School, West Hanover Avenue, Girls Gym 19 Sussex Avenue School, 125 Sussex Ave., Hallway 20 Frelinghuysen School, West Hanover Avenue, Girls Gym 21 Thomas Jefferson School, James Street and Ogden Place, Auditorium 22 Sussex Avenue School, 125 Sussex Ave., Hallway 23 Frelinghuysen School, West Hanover Avenue, Girls Gym


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