Voters in five of seven school districts approved school construction proposals totaling $78 million on Tuesday, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today. 

More than $19 million of the proposed construction would be eligible for state funds, under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000. The EFCFA legislation appropriated $6 billion to fund all school construction costs in the special needs, or Abbott, districts; and another $2.6 billion for up-front grants to fund a minimum of 40 percent of eligible school construction in all other districts. While the grant funding has been fully allocated, the state’s 40-percent share of construction costs would need to be provided through annual debt service aid, which is authorized by the Legislature as part of the annual state budget. 

[In addition to the seven school-construction questions, Willingboro in Burlington County asked voters on Tuesday to approve borrowing $4.7 million to cover a budget deficit for the 2004-05 school year. That question was rejected.] 

Related Developments  NJSBA is a member of Building Our Children’s Future, a coalition of education and business organizations that is urging the administration and Legislature to restore EFCFA funding. 

State leaders are acknowledging the construction funding issue. In his inaugural speech, Gov. Jon Corzine discussed the state’s budget dilemma and its obligation to fund school construction. “…it’s time to restore the transportation trust fund, get back on a path to full funding of public employee pensions, and to discipline and move forward with our school construction program.” 

Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court in late December gave the state Department of Education a February 15 deadline to estimate the future costs of school construction in the 31 Abbott districts. 

Statewide results 
Total amount requested: $78,453,413  ($194,474,174 proposed)

Amount eligible for state grant or debt service aid: $19,960,453  ($45,830,053 proposed) 

State law limits school special elections to five specific dates a year. The next school election will be March 14. 

Atlantic County
Hammonton—Approved

Construct an addition, replace the roof, and convert a wing of Hammonton Middle School into additional classrooms.

$2,614,252 – total

$1,149,158 – amount eligible for state grant or debt service aid 

Mercer County
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional—Approved (both questions)

Proposal 1: Additions and renovations to five schools.

$25,195,000 – total

$6,909,093 – amount eligible for state grant or debt service aid 

Proposal 2: (Contingent upon passage of Proposal 1): Reconstruct athletic fields at high schools with artificial turf

$2,307,420 – total 

Middlesex County
Monroe Township—Approved

Construct a new elementary school

$26,800,000 – total

$4,591,730 – amount eligible for state grant or debt service aid 

Passaic County
Clifton City—Rejected

Construct a new school

$48,994,129 – total

$8,172,736 – amount eligible for state grant or debt service aid

$3,300,000 – state school aid pursuant to Abbott border district legislation 

Wanaque—Approved

Renovations at two elementary schools

$18,276,181 – total cost

$7,310,472 – amount eligible for state grant or debt service aid 

Salem County
Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional—Rejected

Construct a new high school; renovations and additions to the existing high school and an elementary school

$67,026,632 – total

$17,696,864 – amount eligible for state grant or debt service aid 

Somerset County
Watchung Hills Regional—Approved

Funds to complete high-school renovations and additions that were approved by voters on January 28, 2003.

$3,260,560 – total ($260,560 transfer of funds from capital reserve; $3,000,000 new bond issue