From The Press of Atlantic City — Voters refused to support the $67.6 million Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School budget by a 45-ballot margin, or roughly 1 percent, according to official results released Tuesday by the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office.

After school elections last week, the unofficial tally put “no” votes 38 ahead.

The municipal governing body of each sending district – Egg Harbor City and Galloway, Hamilton and Mullica townships – must now review the budget, which called for 2 percent less in taxes overall and lower rates in all communities but Mullica. Residents there would have been subject to a 2.5 percent hike.

The rate in Galloway dropped by

47.8 percent, but the actual effects would have varied among taxpayers because the township underwent a property revaluation this year that doubled the township’s total land value but halved the worth of some properties and quadrupled others.

If all local governments approve the budget, it would pass. If one entity does not, the county superintendent must review it.

Greater Egg Harbor officials held an informational meeting Tuesday night with leaders from Egg Harbor City and Hamilton Township. The Mullica and Galloway governing bodies have their own meetings scheduled, according to Galloway Township Manager Jill Gougher.

A session is scheduled for Saturday, according to Board of Education member Bill Cheatham. Cheatham said only the board president would attend that meeting, and he was unsure whether it would be public.

Galloway Councilman Al DeSimone called for the township elementary school district to become its own kindergarten through 12th-grade system by adding Absegami High School, which currently caters exclusively to township students.

“It’s been attempted twice before, and I spearheaded both efforts,” DeSimone said.

Those efforts failed, but DeSimone was optimistic that changes since then in leadership could facilitate success this time. State law also has changed to encourage consolidation, Councilwoman Meg Worthington said.

Longtime Galloway Board of Education member Bob Iannacone said Tuesday he would support the move, but doubted it could gain enough traction, despite the several years that have elapsed since the last try.

Taxpayers in all towns would have to agree, Iannacone said.

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