Metuchen passes $29M school district budget
Three newcomers win board seats in election
BY JAY BODAS Correspondent
The school budget passed, and the Metuchen Board of Education (BOE) can now call three newcomers board members.

"I'm very pleased that the budget passed, and that it passed by such a wide margin here in Metuchen, given the results in the rest of the county, where only half the budgets passed," said outgoing BOE chair George Trapp. "According to the news last week, I think only 13 passed in Middlesex County."

The budget passed with 898 voting in support of the tax levy and 610 against, according to business administrator Michael Harvier.

The vote tallies for the four candidates were as follows: Eileen Duffy with 844 votes, Dan Benderly with 863, Arthur Flaherty with 1,067, and Jackie Gibson with 897. Current board member Duffy lost her seat on the board. The three winning candidates replace Duffy, Trapp and outgoing member Ron Grayzel, with a reorganization meeting on April 22.

The school budget for the 2008-09 school year is $29,508,195, up from $28,431,451 from the prior year. For the 2008-09 school year, state aid is expected to be $1,834,996, up from $1,536,937 from the previous school year.

School taxes on a house assessed at the borough average of $186,100 would be $5,210 for the 2008-09 school year, said Harvier. Compared to last year, this is a tax increase of $149, or 2.9 percent, for the owner of an average home.

According to the New Jersey Department of Education, of 23 municipalities having budget referendums, budgets passed in 13 and were rejected in 10.

After the election, Gibson said that she was "excited" to serve on the board.

"It is an exciting time for the Metuchen school district," she said. "With the renovations coming to a close, the entire community will be able to enjoy the renovated facilities. I was at a play atMetuchen High School lastweekend in the nearly completed auditorium, and it was fabulous."

"It is going to be a new direction forme, and it is going to be something that I am looking forward to," said Flaherty, who is also a Metuchen police detective. "I would like to thank all the voters for their support, and I will work as hard as I can to show themthat I appreciate their support."