TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer) to give voters, municipalities and school districts the ability to move local school elections from April to November is now law.
The law (A-4394/S-3148) will provide residents more control over their property taxes, by allowing voters to decide – without the approval of a government entity – to eliminate a local election date, in some cases saving hundreds of thousands of dollars locally. The law sets forth several methods by which the April school elections could be moved to the date of the November general election, a move which also would provide for greater participation in the election process.
“Holding a separate election for the selection of school board members costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year. This common-sense reform has the potential to significantly cut elections-related costs by allowing municipalities and school districts to move school board elections to November, and giving voters express authority to eliminate an unnecessary election date,” said Senator Norcross. “By placing the decision-making in the hands of our residents, we are giving them the power to take control of their local property taxes and reduce government costs.”