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

Voters Approve $73 million in School Construction

TRENTON, December 15, 2010—Voters approved six of the eight school district bond referendums on Tuesday for a total of $73.1 million in school construction, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today.

A total of $194 million was on the ballot Tuesday. Of the total amount approved, $25.2 million will qualify for state funds, either through one-time school-construction grants, annual “debt service aid” payments to school districts, or other aid.

Year-end results With Tuesday’s vote included, the proportion of construction proposals approved by voters in 2010 comes to 50 percent. Overall, 17 of 34 bond referendums were approved in the five school-construction election dates this year. The 50-percent success rate for 2010 – which is the lowest on record since NJSBA began tracking school-construction proposals in 1998 – reflects voters’ reluctance to take on additional debt during a struggling economy. The highest success rate was in 2003, when voters approved nearly 79 percent of school construction proposals.

For 2010, a total of $832.11 million in school construction was proposed to voters. Only 26.3 percent of that amount, $218.66 million, was approved. That figure is also the lowest on record. The highest level of school-construction spending took place in 2003, when voters authorized $1.4 billion in school construction projects – 84 percent of the proposed dollar amount for that year.

[See chart summarizing school bond referendums, 2000 through 2010]

School boards may hold special elections on five specific dates a year. The next date on which a school board may schedule a bond referendum question is Jan. 25.

Details of Tuesday’s school construction referendum results are below.

New Jersey School Construction Referendum Results
Tuesday, December 14, 2010

STATEWIDE

Total amount approved – $73,119,009 ($194,052,536 requested)

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $25,255,626 (may include up-front school-construction grants, annual payments of debt service aid, or other state aid)

ATLANTIC COUNTY

Buena Regional - Passed

Addition and renovations to one school, and renovations to two other schools  

Total amount – $10,128,959

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $5,945,853

Somers Point - Passed

Renovations to three schools

Total amount – $5,748,215

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $2,304,365

BERGEN COUNTY

Fort Lee - Rejected

Renovations to three schools; expansions and renovations to three schools (electrical, roof, windows, additional classrooms, science labs, media center, athletic facilities, and other upgrades); property acquisition and construction of a new elementary school

Total amount - $89,811,077

Amount eligible for state reimbursement - $ 18,022,609

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Kingsway Regional - Rejected

Additions and renovations to high and middle schools

Total amount – $31,122,450

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $8,463,401

National Park - Passed

Roof replacement at elementary school

Total amount - $961,000

Amount eligible for state reimbursement - $599,550

Woodbury Heights - Passed

Renovations to elementary school (roof and heating/ventilation/air conditioning)

Total amount – $629,194

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $251,678

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

South River - Passed

Renovations to two schools (electrical, security, windows, doors, gymnasium roof, library, science labs, air conditioning system and other upgrades)

Total amount – $14,192,403

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $7,186,565

Woodbridge Township - Passed

Roof replacement and solar panel installation at 21 schools

Total amount – $41,459,238

Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $8,967,615

The New Jersey School Boards Association is a federation of 588 local boards of education and includes 44 charter school associate members. NJSBA advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.