Moorestown school district election staying right where it is

It seems as if the Moorestown school district elections will remain in April, unless the township council has a last minute decision to reverse the board of education’s vote.

The Moorestown Board of Education voted to keep the school district election in April — with only two members voting to move it to November — as a means to keep the district budget’s fate in the hands of the Moorestown voters.

Governor Chris Christie approved a bill that gives school districts the option of moving board of education elections to November — at the same time as general elections.

Additionally, the bill allows all school budgets that fall within the 2-percent cap to be passed automatically, with no approval needed by township voters. A school board would have to present a “second question” for voter approval if a budget is proposed to exceed the 2-percent cap.

Board of Education President Don Mishler said the school district is one of two governmental entities that allows citizens to approve its yearly budget. Residents don’t want to lose that rite for their voices to be heard, he said.

“The primary reasons haven’t changed. I believe that number one in our mind, this is one of two governmental entities that residents get to vote on their budget. We don’t have a problem with people voting on our budget,” Mishler said. “We got a fair amount of feedback saying that people wanted to vote on our budget.”

The board will keep a close eye on other district who will move its elections to November. The matter will most likely be reevaluated next year at this time, Mishler said.

“We really want to wait and see what happens in other districts. We need to see what a ballot looks like and if there is more significant involvement in political parties then what we’ve experienced in the past,” he said. “You can get mixed in with all of the other things going on in November, it will be a crowded ballot.”

Despite the board’s vote, the township council can still pass a resolution to move the elections to November. At the previous township council meeting, Mayor John Button said the council members would listen to the board’s recommendation and public input before making a decision.

The council will discuss the issue on Monday, Feb. 13.

School district representatives estimated that the school board elections cost more than $20,000 each year.