VOTERS APPROVE 62% OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION REQUESTS
TRENTON, March 13, 2002—Voters approved 62% of the school construction proposals that were on the ballot Tuesday, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported.
Out of the $598.8 million requested by 29 school districts, voters approved $459.8 million in proposed expenditures. Of that amount, $146.58 million will be covered by state grants under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, signed into law in July 2000. The act provides $8.6 billion in state funds for school construction, with a minimum of 40% of state-determined "eligible costs" for local school construction.
"Although the bond approval rate dipped somewhat as compared to previous elections, we continue to be encouraged that voters approved construction in a majority of the districts—despite a difficult economy," said Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director.
Statewide, proposed construction financing on Tuesday’s ballot is divided between state and local sources as follows:
| Total project costs: | $598,820,972.93 proposed $459,813,967.93 approved |
| State grants: | $181,421,032 proposed $146,587,444 approved |
| Locally financed bonds: | $413,489,940.93 proposed $310,226,523.93 approved |
| Other local funds: | $3,910,000 proposed $3,000,000 approved |
The March 12 bond referenda marks the second "Super Tuesday" for special school elections in 2002. A new state law that went into effect last fall limits school bond elections to five dates each year: the fourth Tuesday in January; the second Tuesday in March; the last Tuesday in September; the second Tuesday in December; and the annual school budget election, which takes place on the third Tuesday in April.
During the state’s previous school bond election on January 22, 2002, voters approved seven of the 10 proposals, for a total of $167.59 million in construction projects.
In 2001, New Jersey voters approved three-quarters of the 67 construction proposals placed on the ballot. The approved programs represent $970.1 million in construction spending, of which $272.6 million will be supported by state grants.
NEW JERSEY SCHOOL BOND ELECTIONS:
MARCH 12, 2002
Voters decided school bond referenda in 29 communities on March 12. Below is the list of the districts, details and outcomes of their bond question:
ATLANTIC COUNTY
Mullica Township — Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to elementary/middle School and renovations to an elementary school; acquire and improve 20 acres of land.
Amount: $8,662,388 -- total cost
$4,717,828 -- state grant
$3,944,560 -- locally financed bonds
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BERGEN COUNTY
Closter — Failed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to elementary and middle schools.
Amount: $10,690,000 – total cost
$2,492,760 – state grant
$8,197,240 – locally financed bonds
Saddlebrook — Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to high school and three elementary schools.
Amount: $18,543,030 – total cost
$5,264,548 – state grant
$13,278,482 – locally financed bonds
South Hackensack — Failed
Proposal: Additions and/or renovations Memorial School.
Amount: $8,306,877 – total cost
$2,015,395 – state grant
$6,291,482 – locally financed bonds
Waldwick — Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to the junior/senior high school and one elementary school; renovations to another elementary school.
Amount: $11,194,000 – total cost
$2,478,200 – state grant
$8,715,800 – locally financed bonds
Woodcliff Lake — Failed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to the middle school; renovations to an elementary school; construction of an administration building.
Amount: $8,963,545 – total cost
$1,609,303 – state grant
$7,354,242 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Bordentown Regional — Passed
Proposal: Acquire 75.5 acres; construct a new high school; renovations to existing high school to convert it to a middle school; additions and renovations to two elementary schools and a junior school.
Amount: $47,113,388 – total cost
$9,666,126 – state grant
$37,447,262 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
CAMDEN COUNTY
Gibbsboro — Passed
Proposal: Addition and renovations to elementary school.
Amount: $5,491,760 – total cost
$2,191,873 – state grant
$3,299,887 – locally financed bonds
Gloucester Township — Passed
Proposal: Addition and renovations to three middle schools; renovations to seven elementary schools.
Amount: $11,935,792 – total cost
$4,991,564 – state grant
$6,944,228 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
CAPE MAY COUNTY
Lower Cape May Regional — Passed
Proposal: Addition and renovations to high school and middle school; relocate softball fields and construct a new maintenance garage.
Amount: $14,975,798 – total cost
$4,105,543 – state grant
$10,870,255 – locally financed bonds
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ESSEX COUNTY
Bloomfield — Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to high school; improvements to athletic facilities.
Amount: $58,065,079 – total cost
$18,119,318 – state grant
$39,945,761 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Glassboro --Passed (both proposals)
Proposal 1: Addition and renovations to high school and intermediate school; renovations to two elementary schools. Passed
Amount: $12,059,000 – total cost
$5,070,888 – state grant
$6,988,112 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 2: Upgrades to high school stadium. Passed
Amount: $829,000 – total cost
$829,000 – locally financed bonds
Monroe Township — Passed
Proposal: Addition and renovations to middle school; renovations to three other schools.
Amount: $35,035,793.93 – total cost
$17,138,777 – state grant
$17,897,016.93 – locally financed bonds
Swedesboro-Woolwich — Passed
Proposal: Construct a new elementary school; additions and renovations to existing schools.
Amount: $23,137,843 – total cost
$9,528,166 – state grant
$13,609,677 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
HUNTERDON COUNTY
Delaware Valley Regional — Failed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to high school.
Amount: $23,408,578 – total cost
$6,235,456 – state grant
$17,173,122 – locally financed bonds
Holland Township — Proposal 1 Passed; Proposal 2 Failed
Proposal 1: Renovations to elementary school. Passed
Amount: $4,257,000 – total cost
$1,702,800 – state grant
$2,554,200 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 2: Additions and renovations to same elementary school (contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1). Failed
Amount: $2,637,000 – total cost
$707,546 – state grant
$1,929,454 – locally financed bonds
Readington — Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to middle school and two elementary schools; renovations to another elementary school.
Amount: $27,790,000 – total cost
$7,443,912 – state grant
$20,346,088 – locally financed bonds
South Hunterdon Regional — Failed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to the high school.
Amount: $11,808,000 – total cost
$4,173,280 – state grant
$7,634,720 – locally financed bonds
Union Township — Passed
Proposal: Acquire 26 acres and construct a new elementary school there; renovations to the existing school.
Amount: $14,712,686 – total cost
$2,750,400 – state grant
$11,962,286 – locally financed bonds
_______________________________________________________________________
MERCER COUNTY
Hopewell Valley Regional — Failed
Proposal: Construction of athletic fields and lunch recreation area at middle school.
Amount: $2,770,000 - total cost
$1,860,000 - locally financed bonds
$600,000 - contribution from Hopewell Township Committee
$310,000 - contribution from Recreation Foundation of Hopewell Valley, Inc.
________________________________________________________________________
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Piscataway — Proposal 1 Passed; Proposal 2 Failed
Proposal 1: Additions and alterations at high school, three middle schools, three elementary schools/alterations at four other elementary schools. Passed
Amount: $53,070,189 - total cost
$17,562,453 - state grant
$35,507,736 - locally financed bonds
Proposal 2: Pool facility at high school (contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1). Failed
Amount: $3,500,001 – total cost
$3,500,001 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Manasquan — Failed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to elementary school
Amount: $15,650,000 – total cost
$4,806,342 – state grant
$10,843,658 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
MORRIS COUNTY
Jefferson Township — Proposals 1 & 2 Passed; Proposal 3 Failed
Proposal 1: Additions and renovations at high school/middle school. Passed
Amount: $26,148,244 – total cost
$7,079,704 – state grant
$19,068,540 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 2: Additions and renovations to two elementary schools (contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1). Passed
Amount: $14,025,499 – total cost
$3,848,406 – state grant
$10,177,093 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 3: Additions and renovations at three other elementary schools (contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1 and Proposal 2). Failed
Amount: $6,721,949 – total cost
$1,904,617 – state grant
$4,817,332 -- locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
OCEAN COUNTY
Berkeley Township — Passed
Proposal: Construct new elementary school; additions and renovations to three elementary schools.
Amount: $33,941,000 – total cost
$9,510,900 – state grant
$24,430,100 – locally financed bonds
Plumsted Township — Passed
Proposal: Construct new primary school; additions and renovations to high school and elementary school.
Amount: $17,900,532 – total cost
$6,714,421 – state grant
$8,186,111 – locally financed bonds
$3,000,000 – transfer from capital reserve account
Point Pleasant Borough — Failed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to high school and middle school; renovations to two elementary schools.
Amount: $23,990,679 – total cost
$7,073,618 – state grant
$16,917,061 – locally financed bonds
____________________________________________________________________
PASSAIC COUNTY
Totowa — Failed
Proposal: Addition and renovations to one elementary school; renovations to a second elementary school.
Amount: $13,629,495 – total cost
$3,699,351 – state grant
$9,930,144 – locally financed bonds
______________________________________________________________________
SOMERSET COUNTY
Green Brook — Proposal 1 Passed; Proposals 2 & 3 Failed
Proposal 1: Additions and renovations to middle school, elementary school. Passed
Amount: $12,428,875 – total cost
$4,370,004 – state grant
$8,058,871 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 2: Addition and renovations to middle school and elementary school (contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1). Failed
Amount: $4,242,802 – total cost
$4,242,802 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 3: Construct new administrative offices; renovations to middle school. Failed
Amount: $2,688,079 – total cost
$115,920 – state grant
$2,572,159 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
SUSSEX COUNTY
Green Township — Passed
Proposal: Addition and renovations to elementary school.
Amount: $8,497,071 – total cost
$2,331,613 – state grant
$6,165,458 – locally financed bonds