This year's school budget vote was a reversal from last year, with preliminary results showing the budget passed with 1,908 votes in favor and 1,207 votes against. These totals do not include absentee ballots, which are expected on Thursday, but are not expected to effect the final outcome. Each of the four polling locations reported more votes for the budget than against with 339 for and 237 against at William Mason Elementary School, 395 for and 245 against at the Municipal Building, 499 for and 317 against at Cedar Hill Elementary School and 675 for and 408 against at the Montville Public …

After last year's school budget was voted down and cuts were subsequently made, some residents feel that there is no room left for further cuts, but others argue that there is always room to trim some more. Lazar Middle School language arts teacher Judy Gothelf, voting at the municipal building on Wednesday evening, made the argument that when the schools suffer, the whole town suffers. "Every time we don't pass a budget we become a less desirable place to live," Gothelf said. "I don't think there is any room left for cuts...we are down to the bare bones...see how many teachers are spending …

Polling locations around Montville Township have seen an increase in voter turnout throughout today's school election, with more than 1,000 votes coming in before 5 p.m. Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 9 p.m. By 4 p.m. at the William Mason Elementary School, 311 voters had cast their ballots, which poll worker Stan Mikulka, who has been volunteering for school elections for 10 years, said is the busiest year he has seen. "It's a very strong turnout, usually we might have 100, 150 by this hour," Mikulka said. At approximately 4:30 p.m. at Cedar Hill Elementary School, 392 …

Polls have been open since 7 a.m., and voters are making their way to four different polling locations to vote on the proposed $67,763,621 school budget, a 1.5 percent increase in the local tax levy. Some voters expressed concern on Wednesday about the school's budget. "Well, there's a lot of waste in there," Alan Rosmain said. "When they say they have the students on their mind, that's the last thing they have on their mind." "I think it's too high," Norma Seeberg said. "Everybody has to account for their money today, and it's hard." Dr. Michael Duddy, who sat on the Montville Board of …

Poll workers at the Montville Township Public Library said approximately 400 residents had voted in this year's school election as of Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. Elena Fletcher, who has been volunteering at the polls for 19 years since she was 18 years old, said last year was slightly busier than Wednesday, but that "this year is holding its own." Last year, the budget was voted down. Most of the poll workers at the library have been volunteering for years, including Jenny Govindani, an assistant teacher at the Goddard School, who started 17 years ago. "I want my town to be the best," …