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New Jersey Voters Head To Polls For Major Education Decisions

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - Voters in most of New Jersey's public school districts are being asked to approve budgets and elect board members today. The political atmosphere this year is far different from last.

More than half of the budgets presented to voters in 2010 were rejected, much of that thanks to a call from Governor Chris Christie that, in large part, led to the tax and spending caps now in place across the Garden State.

"We have a two percent tax levy cap in place and this was the centerpiece of the Governor's tool kit," Frank Belluscio with the New Jersey School Boards Association explains.

Eighty-seven percent of the budgets going to voters today come in at or below the cap but two don't.

In Gloucester County, the Kingsway Regional District seeks $400,000 for after school programs.

In Springfield Township, Burlington County, all day kindergarten would cost an extra $99,000. But thanks to the end of a 15-year-old debt, taxes will actually go down a little in Springfield.

Robin Rieger reports...

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060

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