P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI

Voters Approve $76.8 million in School Construction

TRENTON, March 10, 2010—Voters in two of the five New Jersey school districts holding referendum questions on Tuesday approved $76.8 million in school construction, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today.

Of the total amount approved, $40 million will qualify for state funds, either through one-time school-construction grants, annual “debt service aid” payments to school districts, or rebates through the state’s Clean Energy program. The Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000, which provided state funding for school construction, also set the minimum level of state aid for school construction at 40 percent of eligible costs. Before the law, 240 school districts received no state aid for school construction, and another 108 received less than 25 percent.

School boards may hold special elections on five specific dates a year. The next date on which a school board may schedule a referendum question is the Annual School Election on April 20.

Results of Tuesday’s school construction votes are below.

New Jersey School Construction Referendum Results
Tuesday, March 9, 2010

STATEWIDE

Total amount approved – $76,856,887 ($128,846,437 requested)

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $44,065,694 (may include up-front school-construction grants, annual payments of debt service aid, or Clean Energy rebates)       

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Lumberton Township — Passed

Install solar panels at four schools.

Total amount – $9,499,860

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $3,919,357

Springfield Township — Rejected

Addition and renovations to elementary school, including installation of solar panels.

Total amount – $9,385,190

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $3,536,300

Willingboro Township — Passed

Renovations to eight schools.

Total amount – $67,357,027

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $40,146,337

ESSEX COUNTY

Bloomfield Township — Rejected

Renovations to Foley Field, including drainage, utilities, track and field improvements.

Total amount – $2,914,160

MERCER COUNTY

Robbinsville Township — Rejected

Construct a new elementary school and renovate two schools.

Total amount – $39,690,200

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $7,908,100

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.