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CONTACT:        Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org)                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                        Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
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VOTERS APPROVE NEARLY $25 MILLION IN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

TRENTON, January 24, 2007 - Voters in three school districts approved nearly $25 million in school construction on Tuesday, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today.

In all, seven school boards placed referendum questions on the ballot Tuesday, for a total of $89.9 million in proposed construction. Voters in three of those communities—Ridgefield, Westfield, and Allamuchy Township—approved the proposals for a total of $24.96 million in school construction.

State aid will cover 25.5 percent of the amount that voters approved. State funds are expected to be provided to school districts in annual installments of debt service aid, which is funded through the state’s annual budget.

“The issue of state funding for school construction is still very much alive, and there is still a need for adequate school facilities,” said Edwina M. Lee, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association.

“We hope the governor and the Legislature will address this issue in the state’s 2007-08 budget, or through a new school funding formula,” Lee said. “Many districts are hesitant to go forward with new school construction or renovations—and many voters are unwilling to approve such plans—because of the ambiguity of the state’s support for school construction.”

State law limits school special elections to five specific dates a year. The next date that a school board can schedule a bond referendum will be March 13.

The following are the results of Tuesday’s bond questions:

New Jersey School Construction Referendums
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007

STATEWIDE
Total amount approved: $24,964,529 (Amount requested: $89,972,870)
Total amount to be provided through State Debt Service Aid – $6,383,382

BERGEN COUNTY
Ridgefield—Approved
Replace boilers at three schools.
Total Amount - $5,168,381
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of eligible costs

CAMDEN COUNTY
Black Horse Pike Regional—Rejected
Additions and/or renovations to three high schools.
Total Amount – $61,170,344
State Debt Service Aid – 57.78% of eligible costs

ESSEX COUNTY
Verona Township—Rejected
Improvements to athletic fields, including artificial turf, lighting and fencing.
Total Amount - $1,600,000
(Athletic facilities are generally not eligible for State Debt Service Aid)

HUNTERDON COUNTY
Milford—Rejected
Improvements and renovations to the Milford Elementary School.
Total Amount - $1,285,000
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of eligible costs

MORRIS COUNTY
East Hanover Township—Rejected
Complete a window and roof-replacement project previously approved by voters in December of 2002.
Total Amount – $953,000
State Debt Service Aid – N/A

UNION COUNTY
Westfield—Approved
Additions and/or renovations to three schools.
Total Amount - $9,396,145
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of eligible costs

WARREN COUNTY
Allamuchy Township—Approved
Purchase a 10 acre parcel, and renovate an existing building on the property into an elementary school.
Total amount - $10,400,000
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of eligible costs

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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.