NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
(609) 278-5202
Voters Approve Nearly $140 Million in School Construction Projects
TRENTON, December 13, 2006 - Voters on Tuesday approved school construction proposals totaling $139.9 million, ending 2006 with one of the most lackluster years for school construction, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Throughout 2006, New Jersey saw the fewest number of school construction proposals and the fewest number of approvals since NJSBA began tracking referendum questions a decade ago. Voters this year approved 60.6 percent of the 52 proposals that school boards placed on the ballot, authorizing slightly more than $390 million—also the smallest dollar amount of school construction spending that voters approved in any one year over the past decade.
In comparison, the most successful year for school construction proposals was 2003, when voters approved more than 78 percent of all proposals, authorizing a total of $1.42 billion in construction.
New Jersey’s Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000 set a minimum state funding level of 40 percent of state-determined eligible costs per project. The up-front cash grants that were available through the Facilities Act dried up last year, leading to a sharp downturn in voter approvals. Before the Facilities Act was passed, 240 school districts received no state aid for school construction and another 108 received less than 25 percent. However, the state is meeting its 40-percent obligation through “debt service aid” that it pays to school districts in annual installments. The state’s debt service aid is funded through its annual budget.
In addition to the 15 school districts that asked voters to approve new school construction on Tuesday, voters in the Cherry Hill Township Board of Education approved the refinancing of existing debt at a lower interest rate.
A 2001 state law limits school bond elections to five dates within a school year: the fourth Tuesday in January; the second Tuesday in March; the third Tuesday in April; the last Tuesday in September; and the second Tuesday in December. The next bond election date will be Jan. 23.
Following is a 10-year chart of school construction proposals, and the results of the Dec. 12 ballot.
New Jersey School Boards Association
Annual Bond Referenda Survey
Overview: 1997 - 2006
|
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
# of Elections |
52 |
89 |
71 |
93 |
102 |
67 |
89 |
89 |
75 |
74 |
# of Proposals Approved |
31.5* |
52.5* |
48 |
73 |
72 |
50.17* |
68.66 |
63.5* |
45 |
39 |
% of Proposals Approved |
60.6% |
58.9% |
67.6% |
78.5% |
70.5% |
74.9% |
77.2% |
71.3% |
60% |
52.7% |
Total Spending Proposed |
$910 million |
$1.858 billion |
$1.58 billion |
$1.69 billion |
$2.012 billion |
$1.274 billion |
$1.298 billion |
$1.199 billion |
$893.919 million |
$867.91 million |
Total Spending Approved |
$390.65 million |
$1.083 billion |
$1.039 billion |
$1.42 billion |
$1.329 billion |
$970.1 million |
$1.043 billion |
$779.867 million |
$487.215 million |
$473.91 million |
% Spending Approved |
42.9% |
58.3% |
65.7% |
84% |
66.1% |
76.1% |
80.4% |
65% |
54.5% |
54.6% |
New Jersey School Construction Referendums
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
STATEWIDE
Total amount approved: $139,994,697
Total amount requested: $310,153,986
Information derived from ballot questions:
BERGEN COUNTY
Park Ridge - Rejected (all three proposals)
Proposal 1:
Expansion and renovation of the high school and two elementary schools.
Total Amount - $58,317,975
State Debt Service Aid – 20.2% of total
Proposal 2 (contingent upon approval of Proposal 1):
Upgrade high school track and field, and install artificial turf.
Total Amount – 1,020,000
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
Proposal 3 (contingent upon approval of Proposal 1):
Construct larger multipurpose rooms in two elementary schools than set forth in Proposal 1; construct full-size gym; and various HVAC improvements.
Total Amount – $4,700,000
State Debt Service Aid – 25.5% of total
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Hainesport - Rejected (both proposals)
Proposal 1:
Renovations and additions to the elementary school, and renovations for a new library.
Total Amount - $9,259,281.63
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
Proposal 2 (contingent upon approval of Proposal 1):
Replace or upgrade of heating, ventilation, electrical and air conditioning systems at the elementary school.
Total Amount - $2,696,829.37
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
CAMDEN COUNTY
Berlin Township - Rejected
Additions and renovations to the John F. Kennedy Elementary School and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School.
Total Amount – $7,389,955
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
Gloucester Township - Approved
Roof replacement at one elementary and two middle schools
Total Amount - $7,800,000
State Debt Service Aid – 52.7% of total
Laurel Springs - Approved
Renovations to the Laurel Springs Elementary School.
Total Amount - $2,855,711
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
ESSEX COUNTY
Nutley - Approved
Renovations and improvements to four elementary schools and one high school; addition and renovations to the Spring Garden School.
Total Amount - $38,500,000
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Monroe Township - Approved (both questions)
Proposal 1:
Additions and renovation to four elementary schools, the middle school and high school.
Total Amount – 36,551,312
State Debt Service Aid – 55.8% of total
Proposal 2 (contingent upon approval of Proposal 1):
Additions to four elementary schools
Total Amount - $ 7,088,115
State Debt Service Aid – 55.8% of total
HUDSON COUNTY
Kearny - Approved
Renovations of facades at four schools
Total Amount – $12,725,651
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
MERCER COUNTY
Lawrence Township - Approved
Replace roofs, windows or doors at high school, intermediate school and four elementary schools; complete an asbestos abatement program in various schools.
Total Amount - $9,800,237
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of Total
MORRIS COUNTY
Lincoln Park - Rejected
Renovations and additions to elementary school and middle school.
Total Amount – $8,965,534
State Debt Service Aid - $40% of Total
OCEAN COUNTY
Little Egg Harbor Township - Proposal 1 Approved; Proposal 2 Rejected
Proposal 1:
Renovations to the Little Egg Harbor Township Intermediate School and the George J. Mitchell School.
Total Amount - $17,764,375
State Debt Service Aid – 49.878% of Total
Proposal 2:
Construct a new elementary school adjacent to George J. Mitchell School.
Total Amount - $17,805,448
State Debt Service Aid – 49.878% of Total
Ocean Gate - Approved
Renovations to the Ocean Gate Elementary School
Total Amount - $1,186,916
State Debt Service Aid – 56.30% of Total
Toms River Regional - Rejected
Improvements and additions to nine elementary, two intermediate and three high schools.
Total Amount - $13,426,148
State Debt Service Aid – 29.67% of total
PASSAIC COUNTY
Clifton - Proposal 1 Rejected; Proposal 2 Approved
Proposal 1: Construct a new school; renovations to two middle schools.
Total Amount - $46,578,118
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
Proposal 2:Construct a walkway bridge at high school.
Total Amount - $2,417,380
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
SOMERSET COUNTY
Branchburg - Approved
Replace HVAC and electrical equipment at three schools; install solar panels at the middle school.
Total Amount - $3,305,000
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total
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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. |
