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CONTACT:        Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org)                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                        Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
                        (609) 278-5202

Voters to Decide $145 Million in School Construction Tuesday

TRENTON, September 21, 2007 - Nine school districts will ask voters to approve more than $145 million in school construction on Tuesday, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today.

Sept. 25 is the fourth of five days this year on which school boards can schedule bond referendum for construction projects. So far in 2007, voters have approved 19 of 26 school-construction proposals for a total of $107.1 million. The remaining date this year for school-construction ballot questions is Dec. 11.

Of the $145.3 million that is being requested on Tuesday, more than $69 million would qualify for state aid.

The Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000 set the state’s minimum funding level at 40 percent of state-determined eligible costs of school construction projects. Although funds for the up-front cash grants that were available through the Facilities Act are largely unavailable, the state has been meeting its 40-percent obligation through annual payments of debt service aid to school districts. The state's debt service aid is funded through its annual budget.

A list of Tuesday's school construction proposals is below.

State total of proposed school construction: $145,365,574 Amount eligible for state facilities grant or state debt service: $69,656,641

ATLANTIC COUNTY
Greater Egg Harbor Regional
Acquire land and construct a new high school.
$81,710,636 – Total cost
$53,001,187 – Amount eligible for state facilities grant or state debt service
$1,300,000 – Community development grant

BERGEN COUNTY
Dumont
Improvements to athletic fields at three schools.
$3,355,863 – Total cost
$693,000 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

BURLINGTON COUNTY
Rancocas Valley Regional
Renovations to high school classrooms and offices, athletic facilities and bleachers, parking lots and sidewalks.
$6,829,372 – Total cost
$2,540,086 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

HUNTERDON COUNTY
Alexandria Township
Install a boiler heating system at the elementary school.
$770,000 – Total cost
308,000 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

Milford
Proposal 1: Renovations to the elementary school roof and the electric, lighting, and safety systems.
$800,000 – Total cost
$320,000 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

Proposal 2 (Contingent on approval of Proposal 1):
Renovations to elementary school lighting and lavatories.
$590,000 – Total cost
$236,000 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

MORRIS COUNTY
Butler
Improvements to high school athletic facilities.
$3,372,600 – Total cost
$618,693 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

PASSAIC COUNTY
Ringwood
Construction of new classroom wings and renovations to two schools; and renovations to a third school. $28,835,703 – Total cost
$8,042,862 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

WARREN COUNTY
Mansfield Township
Refinance the outstanding balance of a 1995 lease-purchase, at a cost of $2,600,000 (not included in the total tally of statewide school construction); and replace windows in the elementary school, at a cost of $250,000 (which is included in the tally of statewide school construction).
$2,850,000 – Total cost
$100,000 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

North Warren Regional
Proposal 1: Expand and renovate the middle/high school with additional classrooms, and additions or renovations to technology/science labs, gym and locker rooms.
$15,515,000 – Total cost
$3,273,665 – Amount eligible for state grant or state debt service

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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.