N.J. Voters Approve 73% of Local School Budgets

By Karen Diegmueller

Signaling that the tax revolt that has shaken state politics and school budgets may be ebbing, New Jersey voters have approved nearly three-quarters of their local school districts' spending plans for next year.

Of the 552 budgets presented to voters, 406, or 73.6 percent, passed this month--the highest rate of acceptance since 1987, according to the state education department.

The high passage rate contrasts sharply with the frequent public rejection of school budgets in recent years, largely in protest of steep tax hikes approved by Gov. James J. Florio and...