City Weighs Regional School Votes

CAPE MAY – On Dec. 9 voters will express their views regarding the funding formula that supports Lower Cape May Regional school district. The referendum, Nov. 4 was on the desirability of the current funding formula, based on municipal property values, or the earlier historical formula, based on student heads enrolled.
A fact sheet sent to registered voters in Cape May City by Deputy Mayor Jack Wichterman explained that “a yes vote on the referendum would change the tax allocation formula back to one based 100 percent on pupil enrollment.” While a “no vote on the referendum would maintain the current tax allocation mechanism, 100 percent equalized property values.”
Residents shot the referendum down with an overwhelming No vote on the issue.
The second time voters will confront the issue of the regional school district will be in the Dec. 9 special election, and Wichterman included a “fact sheet” there as well.
That election is framed to give voters the opportunity to state their preference on the question of the city’s actual withdrawal from the regional system. If allowed to withdraw, the city would then set up a “sending and receiving” relationship with LCMR. Again the same monthly numbers in terms of savings or added expense would apply.
Wichterman was careful to point out that “LCMR’s budget will not be impacted by the ‘withdrawal’ of Cape May. The change resulting from the withdrawal will simply allocate the tax levy differently.”
His fact sheet also explained that withdrawal “changes the legal relationship between Cape May and LCMR, it does not change the education Cape May’s students receive.”
The December special election on withdrawal is seen almost exclusively in terms of tax levy allocation, even though a persistent issue in this dispute has been representation on the school board where Cape May City has only one representative. This issue of representation is absent from both ballot questions.
Wichterman reminded everyone that the Taxpayers Association of Cape May, in conjunction with the city, will sponsor a round-table discussion Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. at Convention Hall regarding the special election. “I hope we get a big turnout,” Wichterman said.
The attorney representing the city will be present, along with Wichterman and others, to respond to questions.
In the end, voters of Cape May City will probably have the loudest voices even if their numbers are dwarfed by those of Lower Township. With three seats on the five-member city council open in the November election, the council will have a different composition in 2015 soon after the special election.
All five candidates running for council have indicated a desire to hear what the voters have to say.
The entire effort by Council has been aimed at ultimately placing the issue before the courts after an expected loss in the special election.
However, if the voters in the city do not display support for change in the current arrangement, it is not likely that newly-constituted council will carry forward with that plan.
Other Business
Other council business involved approval of an agreement with Cape May Point, which transfers responsibility for construction code services to the city. For the present, Cape May Point would retain electrical sub-code services with construction, building, plumbing and fire sub-code services switching to the city.
Officials in Cape May Point would do a first review of applications and then pass them as appropriate to the city departments. Records would be maintained in the city until completion of any project and then returned to the Point for long term maintenance. Fees will be adjusted were necessary to match the fee structure in use in the city.
An opening in the Cape May Fire Department resulted in the selection of Jonathan J. Brown as the city’s newest full-time firefighter. Brown, with his friends and family gathered, was sworn into office by City Clerk Louise Cummiskey.
Brown has a long association with fire and rescue in the area including neighboring municipalities. He began in 2001 in Cape May with the beach patrol.
Cummiskey also reminded the public that the next council meeting would be Nov. 17 at 7 p.m., a departure from its usual Tuesday schedule.
She also noted the upcoming Cape May City Community blood drive held in conjunction with the American Red Cross. The drive will be held Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Conventional Hall.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.