Advance Robbinsville
September 2023 FREE
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Over the financial cliff Board of Ed okays $4.8 million question on Nov. 7 ballot By BiLL SANserViNO
Robbinsville voters will vote on a public question on Nov. 7 that would allow the school district to raise an additional $4.8 million in tax revenue. School officials say the funds are needed to cover expecteddeficits in upcoming school budgets—state aid did not increase this year, and is anticipated to be cut next year.
As a result, the district needs to increase taxes over the mandated tax cap. State law requires municipalities and school districts to ask for voter approval if they want to increase taxes more than 2%. The $4.8 million is over that cap. If approved, the funding will be taxed over the next 18 months and are a permanent increase in the tax levy. The ballot question was approved by the Robbinsville School Board at a special meeting on Aug. 9. During the session, Superintendent Brian Betze made a case to the board
and members of the public as to why the referendum is necessary. “If we don’t do anything, this district is going off a financial cliff starting Nov. 7, Betze said. If the referendum is rejected by voters it will likely result in teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and cuts to courses, courtesy busing, sports and extracurricular programs, Betze said. It could also mean elimination of kindergarten or going from full-day to half-day kindergarten. See REFERENDUM, Page 7
RHS senior graduates MCCC with criminal justice degree By MArcUs COOK
Robbinsville Police Sgt. Scott Kivet speaks at the “My Country, My Duty” event held on Aug. 10, 2023 at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. The BAPS program celebrated the value of service to the community. For more photos from the event, see page 11.
This year, Jay DeMatteo was one of several diligent teens in Mercer County to earn not just one, but two diplomas upon graduation. The Robbinsville High School graduate—now a rising Junior at Rowan University—was a successful participant in the state’s Jump Start dual enrollment program. Jay graduated Mercer County Community College with his associate
degree in criminal justice earlier this year. Jay graduated from Mercer County Community College on May 18 with a 3.7 grade point average and from RHS on June 16. “I feel proud and empowered in many ways that I received my high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously,” says Jay, who spent much of his young childhood in the foster care system. “For so many years, I ques-
tioned many things about myself; however, reaching this goal reaffirmed the fact that if given a chance, there is nothing I can’t do or learn,” he adds. “I need the right opportunities with people who believe in me. Many people gave up on me or never took the time to give me a chance. I always give 100% in everything I do; sometimes, I learn differently.” Dual enrollment is a standardized way to refer to proSee DEMATTEO, Page 8
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