April 25, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Ramsey Last week, Ramsey’s registered voters took to the polls and approved the board of education’s 2012-13 budget by a vote of 1,072 to 603. Borough voters also selected their three representatives to the school board, including incumbent trustee Richard Muti, who received 1,042 ballots, and newcomers Mary-Ellen Fine and David L. Rockefeller, who received 1,038 ballots and 1,005 ballots, respectively. Incumbent Richard Snyder received 944 votes. The newly-approved $47,541,824 tax levy associated with the school district’s $56,472,755 budget will increase school taxes by $83 for the owner of a property assessed at the borough’s average of $427,200. In order to compute the school tax increase, property owners are advised to multiply each $100,000 of assessed value by 19.45. This figure does not include taxes that will be assessed to support the municipal budget or the Bergen County budget. All of the candidates were asked for their input on the election results. “I am very pleased with the outcome of the school voting,” Muti said. “The budget passed by a wide margin because the public trusted that the board is acting in everyone’s interests--students, staff, and the taxpayers who pay Voters approve budget, endorse three trustees the bills. Mae Fine and Dave Rockefeller will be tremendous assets to the newly constituted board. My only regret about the election is that voter turnout was not as high as in the three prior years, when an average of 31 percent of eligible voters participated. This April, only 16.9 percent of registered voters went to the polls. I would like to see the board go back to the expanded voting hours that were in effect formerly. It may cost a few dollars more, but the greater voter participation will be worth the expense. I want to thank all who voted for me. I am honored by their continued support.” Rockefeller stated, “I appreciate the support of the people of Ramsey who elected me to the board. I am anxious to get started and getting up to speed on the issues. I look forward to working hard and doing my best for the all the stakeholders, the students, the faculty, and the taxpayers.” Fine grew up in Paramus and moved to Ramsey nine years ago. She is an active volunteer, and has served as PTO co-president at Dater/Hubbard schools for six years. She is also a room parent at Hubbard and Dater. Fine has been a DARE Committee Chair for one year, a Teen Canteen Committee chair at Smith School for two years, a member of the Ramsey Drug Alliance for two years, a Cub Scout Pack 175 Committee chair for two years, and a Girl Scout Brunch Committee co-chair. She is also a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Paul R.C. Church. She is employed by Valley National Bank. Muti was born and raised in Ramsey, where his family has lived for 100 years. He attended the public schools and (continued on page 18)