NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
(609) 278-5202
Voters in 16 of 18 Districts Approve $82 Million in School Construction Proposals
TRENTON, April 19, 2007—Voters in 16 of 18 school districts approved school-construction proposals totaling $82.1 million during Tuesday's Annual School Election, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported.
A total of $161.9 million was requested. Of the total amount approved, $38.28 million is to be covered through state grants or reimbursed in installments of annual state aid for debt service.
The Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000 set a minimum state funding level of 40 percent of state-determined eligible costs per project. Although the up-front cash grants that were available through the Facilities Act are no longer available, the state is meeting its 40-percent obligation through annual installments of state debt service aid to school districts. The state's debt service aid is funded through its annual budget.
The number of construction proposals on Tuesday's ballot represents a marked increase over the most recent bond election on March 14, when only one district proposed a project.
A 2001 state law limits school bond elections to five dates a year: The Annual School Election in April, the last Tuesday in September, the second Tuesday in December, the fourth Tuesday in January and the second Tuesday in March.
Results of the April 17 construction proposals follow.
New Jersey School Construction Referendum Results
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
STATEWIDE
Total amount approved: $82,143,062 (Amount requested: $161,936,752)
Total amount to be reimbursed by the state: $38,282,936
ATLANTIC COUNTY
Hamilton Township – Passed
Renovations to three schools
Total Amount - $997,000
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $526,915
BERGEN COUNTY
Edgewater – Passed
Replace school roof
Total Amount - $665,081
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $266,032
Harrington Park – Passed
Roof replacement and exterior renovations to Harrington Park Elementary School.
Total Amount - $1,552,795
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $621,118
Northern Valley Regional High School – Passed
Renovations to Demarest High School
Total Amount - $2,186,130
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $874,452
Oakland – Passed
Fire alarm and roof replacement at middle school, and electrical system improvements to four schools.
Total Amount - $1,152,986
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $461,194
Paramus – Passed
Renovations, roof and security improvements to several schools.
Total Amount – $1,983,603
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $793,441
River Edge – Rejected
Acquire property adjacent to the Cherry Hill School
Total Amount - $895,000
(Not eligible for state support)
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Shamong Township – Passed
Roof, security and fire alarm renovations to two schools.
Total Amount - $757,846
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $303,138
Riverside Township – Passed
Re-roofing of the Riverside Middle/High School.
Total Amount - $513,000
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $195,970
MERCER COUNTY
Ewing Township – Passed
Cancel the district’s lease-purchase agreement of existing school facilities and refinance the debt through a bond issue.
Total Amount - $14,775,000
(Not eligible for state support)
MIDDLESEX
Edison Township – Rejected
Additions and renovations to 12 schools.
Total Amount - $79,899,190
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $17,001,010
MONMOUTH
Ocean Township – Passed
Energy projects including HVAC upgrades, new lighting and upgrades to water conservation equipment at five schools
Total Amount - $6,113,217
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $2,445,287
Upper Freehold Regional – Passed
Expend additional funding on the construction of a new middle school that was approved by voters in December 2004, and to acquire land to construct the school on that site.
Total Amount - $13,238,000
Amount of locally financed bond: $12,238,000
Transfer from capital reserve: $1 million
MORRIS COUNTY
Boonton Town – Passed
Renovations and additions to two schools, and relocate school administration offices.
Total Amount – $23,581,325
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $7,095,645
East Hanover Township – Passed
Completion of a renovation project previously approved by voters in December 2002.
Total Amount - $953,000
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $264,860
Lincoln Park – Passed
Renovations to the elementary and middle schools.
Total Amount - $2,146,759
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $818,703
OCEAN COUNTY
Brick Township – Passed
Renovations to five schools.
Total Amount - $4,439,186
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $1,775,674
Pinelands Regional – Passed (both questions)
Proposal 1:
Academic and athletic-related renovations to the high school and junior high school.
Total: $5,614,456
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $3,345,817
Proposal 2:
Construction of additional classrooms
Total: $1,493,678
Amount eligible for state reimbursement: $1,493,678
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The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.
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