Failed school budget now heads to committee HAZLET - Although all five incumbents were re-elected to their respective positions on the Board of Education, the school budget ended up failing for the second consecutive year. After getting defeated last year by a 2:1 ratio, this year was a much closer defeat, 992-779. At stake was a $30,987,424 local tax levy, which was to help support an overall budget of $44,311,706. The budget included funds for a new multimedia center and computer labs for all schools within the district, a new air-conditioning unit in the main office of Hazlet Middle School and new biology labs at Raritan High School. If the budget has been approved, the school tax rate would have increased by 10.8 cents per $100 of assessed value. Thus, the owner of a home assessed at $135,468 would have seen a total tax increase of just under $146 per year. "Obviously, we're very disappointed that the budget failed, but we were happy to see that there was a big turnaround from last year," Business Administrator/ Board Secretary Christopher Mullins said. "We felt it was a solid budget, but unfortunately it just wasn't passed." As for the candidates, board President Glenn Mason (1,113 votes) and Jay Oza (929) were re-elected for one-year terms, while Michael Leonard (1,084), Celine McNally (1,065) and Lauri O'Leary (1,018) were each re-elected for a three-year term. None of the races were contested. The budget will now head before the Township Committee, which can recommend cuts or leave the plan as it is. If the board is unhappy with the committee's recommendation, it may appeal the decision to the state. "Our district looks forward to working with the Township Committee and hopefully each side will be satisfied in the end," Mullins said. - Dan Newman