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Two School Construction Referendums Fail, One Passes

OTHS Physical Performance Wellness CenterVoters in the Freehold Borough, Ocean Township and West Long Branch School Districts went to the polls yesterday to decide the fate of school construction bonding proposals.

In Freehold, 611 voters, 11% of those registered rejected borrowing $33 million for school construction by 241 to 370.  An identical referendum was defeated by Borough voters on September 30 by 273 to 374.   There are 1644 students residing in the district.   The average property tax bill in Freehold Borough would have increased by $278 per year had the measure passed.

In the Ocean Township K-12 District, which include residents of Loch Arbour, 1997 voters, 10% of those registered, approved a $29 million measure that will fund improvement and renovations to four schools.  More than half of the spending, $15.4 million,  will go towards a performing arts auditorium and gymnasium in the high school.  The new bonds will not result in a tax increase for debt service, according to the Board of Education, because a 1995 bond is being paid off.

508 West Long Branch voters, 8.6 %, defeated an $9,000,000 project for new HVAC systems in two schools.  $3.6 million (40%) of the project would have been paid for by the State of New Jersey.  Property taxes would have increased by an average of $45.96 had the measure passed.

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Posted: December 10th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Education, Elections, Freehold, Monmouth County, Ocean Township, West Long Branch | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments »

3 Comments on “Two School Construction Referendums Fail, One Passes”

  1. MLaffey said at 8:07 am on December 10th, 2014:

    Seems to me a new HVAC system is kind of a must have if the old one is not working . Yet that referendum failed. On the other hand a gymnasium and performing arts center are not essential to a good education. The essential item fails in one district and the frills pass in another. Whats wrong with that picture?

  2. dentss dunnigan said at 4:46 pm on December 10th, 2014:

    MLaffy …I need a new furnace ,can’t afford one ,so I refuse to go into debt and don’t get one until I’ve saved enough money ,Freehold residence are tax out …along with every other town .

  3. Rob Acerra said at 6:02 am on December 12th, 2014:

    MLaffy… The gymnasium and performing arts center are only two of the many needed improvements the voters of Ocean Township passed. A much needed cafeteria for our Wanamassa School (built in the 1920’s) is slated to be constructed to finally allow students to enjoy their meals outside of their desks. New science labs for the Intermediate School; a completely updated HVAC system for all schools; new sound amplification systems for all classrooms and much more. Through prudent financial planning even with the passage of the referendum the average tax assessment for debt service will actually be decreasing….