TRENTON, January 23, 2002—Voters approved seven of the
school construction referenda held yesterday in 10 communities throughout New
Jersey, the New Jersey School Boards Association announced today.
“Considering the state of the
economy and the budget news coming from Trenton, we are encouraged that voters
approved construction plans in a majority of the school districts,” said
Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director. “It’s clear that New Jerseyans
understand the need for school improvements, whether the need is driven by
rising enrollments, new curriculum, or health and safety issues.”
Voters yesterday approved $167.59
million in school construction. Of that, the state will pay for $48.88 million
under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, signed into law
in July 2000. The act provides $8.6 billion in state funds for school
construction, with a minimum of 40% of state-determined “eligible costs” for
local school construction.
The January 22nd bond
referenda marks the first "Super Tuesday" for special school elections
in 2002. A new state law that went into effect last fall limits school bond
elections to five dates each year: the fourth Tuesday in January; the second
Tuesday in March; the last Tuesday in September; the second Tuesday in December;
and the annual school budget election, which takes place on the third Tuesday in
April.
Voters approved seven
school bond referenda held in 10 communities on January 22. Below are the
results from the districts and details of their bond question:
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Medford Lakes -
Passed
Proposal: Construction of a multi-purpose room/gym; classroom renovations; repairs.
Amount: $7,267,506 - total cost
$2,100,022 - state grant
$5,167,484 - locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
ESSEX COUNTY
Fairfield Township -
Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to the Winston Churchill School.
Amount: $3,115,499 - total cost
$997,856 - state grant
$2,117,643 - locally financed bonds
Nutley - Defeated
Proposal: Additions and renovations to high school, middle school and five elementary schools.
Amount: $49,900,730 – total cost
$14,588,836 – state grant
$35,311,894 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Cranbury Township -
Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to the Cranbury School.
Amount: $7,307,544 – total cost
$1,358,568 – state grant
$5,948,976 – locally financed bonds
North Brunswick -
Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to the high school.
Amount: $29,990,000 – total cost
$7,840,534 – state grant
$22,149,466 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
MORRIS COUNTY
Florham Park -
Passed
Proposal: Additions and renovations to three schools.
Amount: $14,496,000 – total cost
$2,913,301 – state grant
$10,940,028 – locally financed bonds
$642,671 – transfer of unspent funds from a 1993 capital project
________________________________________________________________________
OCEAN
COUNTY
Jackson Township -
Passed
Proposal: Acquire land; construct new high school and new elementary school; addition of new gyms to two existing schools.
Amount: $103,129,000 – total cost
$32,762,027 – state grant
$70,366,973 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
PASSAIC COUNTY
North Haledon -
Defeated
Proposal: Additions and renovations to elementary school.
Amount: $16,784,921 – total cost
$5,116,896 – state grant
$11,668,025 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
Manville - Passed
Proposal: Renovations of all district schools.
Amount: $2,286,525 – total cost
$914,610 – state grant
$1,371,915 – locally financed bonds
________________________________________________________________________
UNION COUNTY
Roselle Park -
Defeated
Proposal: Additions, repairs and renovations to middle school, high school, and three elementary schools.
Amount: $19,402,948 – total cost
$6,333,639 – state grant
$13,069,309 – locally financed bonds