Voters to get say at school election

[news]

Voters will get the last word on next year's school budget and three school board candidates when polls open Tuesday at Town Hall.

The candidates are incumbents Julie Hardaker and Joan Weidner, and newcomer Wendi Patella. They're running unopposed for three vacant three-year terms.

Voters will control the fate of a $16.7 million spending plan, and will be asked to approve a $15.5 million tax levy.

The budget is 5 percent larger than last year's $15.9 million plan and, if approved, would set the school tax rate at 81.33 cents per $100 of assessed value. Under that rate, the owner of a house assessed at the new township average of $673,000 would pay $5,474 in school taxes during the 2007-2008 school year.

The budget includes $6 million to pay for salaries and wages, up 4.7 percent from $5.8 million in 2006. It also calls for $910,236 to cover debt service, $4.1 million to cover Princeton High School tuition for 253 regular students and 12 special education students and $1.8 million for employee benefits.

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