I’m sure this will be getting some widespread attention.

New Jersey voters rejected a majority of school budgets for the first time in more than three decades, defeating a record 59 percent of the plans as districts sought to raise the highest property taxes in the U.S.

Voters shot down 315 of the 537 proposals, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association. The last time more than half of the proposals failed was in 1976, when 56 percent were rejected, according to the group. Budgets were voted down yesterday in districts including Ridgewood, Edison and Teaneck.

The vote doesn’t necessarily change anything:

School budgets rejected by voters are sent to municipal councils, who can leave the plans intact or make cuts. Municipalities have until May 19 to decide on the tax levy, and boards can appeal any council decision to the state education commissioner. Frank Belluscio, spokesman for the school-boards group, said taxes would still rise in most towns even if voters rejected the plans and reductions are made.

The article implies that turnout was high by comparing Middlesex County turnout to average NJ turnout in these elections.

As a general rule, when voters reject school budgets, things are already past bad. For state and local governments, expect things to get worse.