POLL: School Election Brings 2,000 People To Vote in Marlboro

Only 2,070 people came out to vote for the Marlboro K-8 school and election, a day that costs the district around $50,000 to run.

Legislation introduced by Gov. Chris Christie in January allows districts to move school board and budget elections to November, combining it with the general election ticket, and theoretically increasing the voting population.

In February, the vote to move the election to November , keeping the election on the April ballot. Moving the election would mean eliminating the public vote on the budget, unless the budget exceeded the two percent tax cap.

District Business Administrator Cindy Barr-Rague said last year's election cost $32,000, a portion of which is paid for by the Freehold Regional High School District who shares the election. In February, , meaning Marlboro would have to pay the entire amount. Additional costs include about $7,000 of mandatory advertising of the election.

Debate about whether or not the board elections will become politicized by adding it to the general election, as well as the worry about taking away the public budget vote counteracted saving almost $50,000.

However, voting to move the election would mean the district is locked into a November election for the next four years. As it stands, the BOE can vote to move the election now if it sees fit.