Majority of school budgets approved Hunterdon County results incomplete. Voters reject spending plans for P'burg, Lopatcong. Wednesday, April 16, 2008 • By LYNN OLANOFF • The Express-Times Voters approved 19 of Warren County's 23 school budgets up for referendum Tuesday and at least 11 of Hunterdon County's 29 school districts. School budget election results were incomplete in Hunterdon County as of midnight. In Warren County, voters rejected school budgets in Phillipsburg, Lopatcong Township, Hardwick Township and Great Meadows. Phillipsburg's budget would have raised school taxes about $80 for a resident in the town's average assessed home. The district faced an initial $10 million budget gap this year and is being forced to cut 61 positions. School board President Paul Rummerfield said he was unsure what else could be cut from the budget. "Every department has taken a reduction," he said. The district is still working on some administrative cuts that could reduce spending, he said. School budgets in two other large school districts --Hackettstown and Warren Hills -- did pass Tuesday. Hackettstown's budget will raise school taxes about $24 for a resident in the town's average assessed home. The budget will cover the hiring of three additional teachers and more than $600,000 in capital projects. Warren Hills Regional's budget will cut school taxes in Washington and Washington Township and raise them slightly in Franklin and Mansfield townships. The district had a $1 million budget gap that forced officials to lay off four to six employees and reduce spending for curriculum, transportation, health benefits and capital projects. Two out of three additional ballot questions passed. Voters in Frenchtown approved reducing their school board from nine to seven members, and North Warren voters approved spending $656,250 to upgrade the school's heating system. A Great Meadows question seeking another $313,939 to start a full-day kindergarten program failed. The Great Meadows question needed 60 percent voter approval to pass. Reporter Lynn Olanoff can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at lolanoff@express-times.com.