Residents to Consider Budgets, Board of Education Candidates Today

At today's school election, voters will consider their districts' 2011-2012 spending plans at the polls, as well as cast ballots for Board of Education.

In Cedar Grove, voters will weigh in on a $25.1 million budget for the next school year, and will decide between two candidates for one three-year seat on the school board. Incumbent Michael Grabas is seeking his second full term on the five-member board. His challenger is Christine Dye.

The budget as adopted by the board late last month would be supported by a $23.1 million tax levy, which if approved by voters would impose a school tax hike of $75, or $6.25 per month, for a household assessed at the township average of $480,300.

In Verona, voters will decide the fate of the district's $31.6 million spending plan, which calls for a tax levy of $27.1 million, and would result in an average school tax increase of $104 per household, or $8.66 per month.

The result of Verona's Board of Education race is somewhat of a foregone conclusion. Dawn DuBois threw her hat in the ring last month as the lone challenger of incumbent Steve Spardel's three-year seat on the board. However, earlier this month Spardel withdrew his candidacy, leaving DuBois unopposed for the seat on the ballot.

Spardel's name will, however, still appear on the ballot, as his candidacy withdrawal came after the deadline to be removed. Board of Education President John Quattrocchi said Tuesday that Spardel has filed a letter with the board indicating he would decline the position if elected. Spardel could not be reached for additional comment on his withdrawal.

Quattrocchi said if Spardel receives the most votes, the board will appoint someone to serve until next year's election, at which point the seat will become available as a two-year term.

Polls will be open from 2-9 p.m. today. Registered voters can cast their ballots at the following locations:

Polling Places:

Verona 

District 1: Laning Avenue School, 973-239-5590

District 2: Brookdale Avenue School, 973-239-4250

District 3: H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, 973-239-1300

District 4: H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, 973-239-1300

District 5: Forest Avenue School, 973-239-2422

District 6: Forest Avenue School, 973-239-2422

District 7: F.N. Brown Elementary School, 973-239-5241

District 8: Brookdale Avenue School, 973-239-4250

District 9: Verona High School (Lobby), 973-239-3300

District 10: Laning Avenue School, 973-239-5590

District 11: Verona High School (Lobby), 973-239-3300

Cedar Grove

District 1: United Presbyterian Church, 155 Commerce Road

District 2: North End Fire House, 170 E. Lindsley Road

District 3: Memorial Middle School, 500 Ridge Road

District 4: Cedar Grove High School, 90 Rugby Road

District 5: Cedar Grove High School, 90 Rugby Road

District 6: Leonard R. Parks School Building, 520 Pompton Ave.

District 7: Cedar Grove Ambulance and Rescue Squad, 651 Pompton Ave.

District 8: North End School, 122 Stevens Ave.

District 9: South End School, 116 Harper Terr.

District 10: Leonard R. Parks School Building, 520 Pompton Ave.

Check Verona-Cedar Grove Patch for election results tonight as soon as they become available.

To read more about the Cedar Grove candidates, .

Both Spardel and DuBois declined to submit candidate statements.