William J. Brennan

“ Indeed, as in the instant case, when the program represents the body's judgment of what is required in the effective discharge of its responsibility, it is not only the right but perhaps the duty of the body to endeavor to secure the assent of the voters thereto. The question we are considering is simply the extent to and manner in which the funds may with justice to the rights of dissenters be expended for espousal of the voters' approval of the body's judgment. ”

“ The conduct of a campaign, before an election, for the purpose of exerting an influence upon the voters, is not the exercise of an authorized municipal function and hence is not a corporate purpose of the municipality. ”

“ The power so implicit plainly embraces the making of reasonable expenditures for the purpose of giving voters relevant facts to aid them in reaching an informed judgment when voting upon the proposal. ”

“ The importance of the proper discharge of this responsibility cannot be overemphasized. "A school district is a part of the machinery of government, as much so, to all intents and purposes, as a town or township. ”

“ Defendant proposed a program for enlarging several school buildings and to issue bonds in the amount of $ 560,000 to finance the first half of the program. There being existing debt limitations, approval of the proposal, as required by R.S. 18:5-86, as amended, was first obtained from the State Commissioner of Education and the Local Government Board before the proposal was submitted, as is also required by that statute and as was in any event required by R.S. 18:7-73, to a referendum vote at an election held December 2, 1952 when the proposal was adopted by a vote of 875 to 542. ”

“ Operating expenses will continue to rise as the enrollment increases (more teachers, more supplies and equipment for children. THIS WILL BE SO WHETHER WE BUILD OR NOT.) "
[NJ176] On December 1, the day before the referendum election, radio station WMTR broadcast a 15-minute panel discussion of the proposed building program as one of the station's "public interest" programs. The panel was composed of a member of the defendant board of education and two members of a citizens advisory committee which assisted the board in the formulation of the building program. ”