FLEMINGTON, NJ - After several months of build-up and three town halls, the voters in the Flemington-Raritan School District voted down a proposed increase in the tax levy about 2%, with a vote 2,745 to 2,183.
While voter turnout was low, at 22.33% compared to November’s election which saw a 70.77% turnout, it was still higher than last year’s primary election in June, which had a turnout of only 16.24%.
The district was requesting approval to raise the tax levy by 6%.
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With the failed vote, the district will be unable to raise $3,583,124 from taxes, and is preparing to potentially have to cut 30 teachers, six Class III officers, STEM programs and junior varsity sports at J.P. Case Middle School.
The district is still preparing to increase taxes by 2%, raising $1,194,375, which is the highest percentage the district can increase taxes without approval from the voters.
In an email Wednesday afternoon, Superintendent Dr. Kari McGann said she met with all building principals March 12 to let them know the levy didn’t pass, and to discuss what they’ll do next and that it’s heartbreaking that they’ll have to let teachers go.
“We have exceptional educators who’ve made valuable contributions to our district and to students,” McGann said. “The fact that over 30 educators will no longer have a position here at FRSD for the 2025–2026 school year is heartbreaking. As I’ve shared in previous letters to our community, if the question didn't pass, specifics noted in the question will be required to be reduced, and every decision has a ripple effect.”
Though which teachers will be cut hasn’t been decided, at the board meeting in January, board member Gina Criscitiello said that, at a personnel committee meeting, they heard from McGann about the process for deciding which positions would be cut.
In the months leading up to the vote, the school district hosted three town halls with the public to try to educate people on what the vote would mean, and to address misconceptions about what the vote involved.
Throughout those town halls, people spoke both for and against the tax levy, with people in favor of the increase citing the importance of preserving the staff and programs, while those against it said the district wasn’t spending its money properly.
The board had previously discussed how much to set the vote for, settling on a 6% increase over something higher for fear that it wouldn’t pass, and not choosing something lower because they wanted to avoid cutting positions and had conducted a survey last year that gave some indication that there was support for a 6% increase.
A preliminary budget will be presented to the school board March 17.