Princeton voters roundly endorsed the Princeton Regional Schools $72 million 2006-2007 budget last night by a margin of 199, while electing Ridgeview Road resident Mia Cahill to the only contested seat on the School Board, according to results after polls closed at 9 p.m. last night.
The budget was approved by a margin of 177 in the Township, with a tally of 640 to 463, and by 22 in the Borough, where the tally was 190 to 168.
The $72 million budget includes a tax hike: a Borough taxpayer with a home assessed at $400,000, will see taxes jump by $161, or 4 cents per $100 of assessed value. A Township taxpayer with a home assessed at $400,000, will pay $318 more than last year, or 8 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The single seat on the board representing the Township was contested by Caroline Mitchell of Tupelo Row and Mia Cahill of Ridgeview Road. Following a campaign that included letters to the local press and advertisements on her behalf, Ms. Cahill won by 329 votes.
A 1984 graduate of Princeton High School (PHS), Ms. Cahill is an attorney. She serves on the board of the Princeton Education Foundation (the organization that raises private money for Princeton Regional Schools) and is a former member of the Spirit of Princeton Committee. She has served as Fundraising Chairperson of the Community Park Parent Teacher's Organization (PTO).
Commenting last night, Ms. Cahill, said: "I appreciate the support of the Princeton Township voters and I'd like to thank everyone who has given so much in support of my campaign, especially my campaign manager, Kathryn McIsaac. I want to thank my opponent and express the hope that she remains involved in education issues in the future. I am looking forward to working with the board members and members of the community to address the very important issues our school district will face in the next three years."
Ms. Cahill ran against Caroline Mitchell, a 1972 PHS graduate who is manager of The Papery of Princeton on Hulfish Street.
Unopposed candidate in the Borough Rebecca Cox of Madison Street was elected to a three-year term. Ms. Cox is a 1982 graduate of PHS and has served as co-president of Community Park Elementary School's PTO since 2004.
Borough incumbent Joshua Leinsdorf of Forester Drive was re-elected to a second three-year term. Full details of the budget can be viewed on the Princeton Regional School District's website at http://www2.prs.k12.nj.us.