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

VOTERS TO DECIDE NEARLY $90 MILLION IN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ON TUESDAY

TRENTON, January 19, 2007 - Nearly $90 million in proposed school construction will be decided by voters in seven school districts on Tuesday, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today.

State aid would cover more than 47 percent of the $89.97 million proposed. The Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000 called for the state to fund a minimum of 40 percent of what the state determines are eligible costs per project. Although funding for the Facilities Act’s up-front cash grants have been depleted, the state is meeting its 40-percent obligation through annual installments of debt service aid to school districts. The state’s debt service aid is funded through its annual budget.

State law limits school special elections to five specific dates a year. The fourth Tuesday in January is the first of the year, and the next date for school bond referendums will be the second Tuesday in March.

The following is a list of districts with bond questions on Tuesday, with details of the proposal:

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

STATEWIDE
Total amount requested: $89,972,870
Amount eligible for State Debt Service Aid – $42,685,034

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

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

ESSEX COUNTY
Verona Township
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
Improvements and renovations to the Milford Elementary School.
Total Amount - $1,285,000
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total

MORRIS COUNTY
East Hanover Township
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
Additions and/or renovations to three schools.
Total Amount - $9,396,145
State Debt Service Aid – 40% of total

WARREN COUNTY
Allamuchy Township
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 – 9.625% 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.