As reported by the New Jersey School Boards Association:
Voters in 11 of 15 New Jersey school districts approved more than $215.4 million in school construction projects on Tuesday, Dec. 8.
School boards may hold special elections on five specific dates a year, and Tuesday was the final day for a school board to schedule a referendum in 2009. This year, voters approved school-construction proposals in 48 of 66 communities, for a success rate of 72.7 percent, one of the highest approval rates recorded during the past 11 years. The average success rate during the previous four years has hovered around 62 percent.
The 15 districts holding bond referendums on Tuesday proposed a total of $237 million in school construction. Energy-saving initiatives continued to be popular, as seven of the 15 referendums asked voters to approve solar panels; six of the projects with solar energy components were approved.
Of the $215.4 million that was approved in the 11 districts, nearly $68 million will be covered by state funds, either through up-front grants, annual “debt service aid” payments, or rebates through the state’s Clean Energy program.
The next date on which a school board may schedule a bond referendum question is Jan. 26.
Statewide results from Tuesday’s school construction proposals:
ATLANTIC COUNTY
Estell Manor – REJECTED
Renovations, including HVAC, electrical, and installing a geothermal system
Total amount – $3,105,636
Amount eligible for state funding – $1,367,192
BERGEN COUNTY
Edgewater – PASSED (both questions)
Proposal 1: Demolish the George Washington School and construct new elementary school
Total amount – $28,250,000
Amount eligible for state funding – $ 1,179,750
Proposal 2 (contingent upon the passage of Proposal 1)
Install solar panels at Eleanor Van Gelder School
Total amount – $478,400
Amount eligible for state funding – $191,360
Hasbrouck Heights – REJECTED
Relocation of main office and several classrooms for security reasons at two elementary schools; replacement of heating systems at two elementary schools, the middle school and high school
Total amount – $4,728,712
Amount eligible for state funding – $1,891,484
Ridgewood – PASSED
Renovate high school, including field improvements; additions and/or renovations to eight other schools, with projecting ranging from new roofs to installation of a new track
Total amount – $48,265,314
Amount eligible for state funding – $9,844,712
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Bordentown Regional – PASSED
Renovations to the high school complex, including solar panels, reconstruction of athletic fields, lighting and other work
Total amount – $8,499,975
Amount eligible for state funding – $2,620,936
Mansfield Township – PASSED (both questions)
Proposal 1: Roof replacement at elementary school
Total amount – $639,300
Amount eligible for state funding – $255,720
Proposal 2 (Contingent upon passage of Proposal 1: Install solar panels at elementary school
Total amount – $1,229,424
Amount eligible for state funding – $ 491,770
Springfield Township – REJECTED
Renovations including installing solar panels at elementary school
Total amount – $11,083,227
Amount eligible for state funding – $3,776,565
CAMDEN COUNTY
Berlin Township – PASSED
Roof replacement, renovations to HVAC at two schools; roof replacement at administration building
Total amount – $6,580,995
Amount eligible for state funding – $3,246,206
CAPE MAY COUNTY
Woodbine – PASSED
Install solar panels at elementary school
Total amount – $3,682,665
Amount eligible for state funding – $2,145,745
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Fairfield Township – PASSED
Addition and renovations to elementary school
Total amount – $3,984,772
Amount eligible for state funding – $1,984,772
ESSEX COUNTY
Livingston Township – PASSED (both questions)
Proposal 1: Renovations to six elementary schools and two middle schools
Total amount – $55,996,572
Amount eligible for state funding – $22,398,628
Proposal 2 (contingent upon passage of Proposal 1): Install solar panels and any necessary roof and electrical system renovations at six elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school
Total amount – $8,687,905
Amount eligible for state funding – $3,475,162
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Delsea Regional – REJECTED
Replace roof at middle school
Total amount – $3,000,000
Amount eligible for state funding – $1,631,719
SALEM COUNTY
Quinton Township – PASSED
Improvements to elementary school, including installing solar panels
Total amount – $4,839,850
Amount eligible for state funding – $2,717,885
SOMERSET COUNTY
Montgomery Township – PASSED
Renovations to three schools, addition and renovations to one school
Total amount – $24,350,352
Amount eligible for state funding – $9,485,489
UNION COUNTY
Cranford – PASSED
Replace roofs at all schools; replace HVAC systems in three schools and boilers at three other schools.
Total amount – $19,981,269
Amount eligible for state funding – $7,992,506
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3 comments:
Amount (Ridgewood's) eligible for state funding – $9,844,712
I refer you to your first post. Where is this money coming from?
This is from the State of NJ Schools Development Authority website (www.njsda.gov)...(FYI Ridgewood is a Regular Operating District/ROD):
On July 9, 2008, Governor Jon S. Corzine signed legislation authorizing $3.9 billion in additional funding for the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA).
The legislation allocates $2.9 billion for 31 special-needs districts, known as SDA Districts. The SDA manages and funds 100 percent of eligible project costs in SDA Districts.
The legislation also allocates $1 billion to leverage construction in New Jersey’s Regular Operating Districts (RODs) that includes $50 million for vocational schools. The SDA administers grants for RODs, which manage their own projects.
The school construction program was originally allocated $8.6 billion in 2000: $6 billion for SDA Districts and $2.6 billion for RODs, including $100 million for vocational schools. That funding has been fully committed to projects, although not completely disbursed. The authorization of additional funds allowed the SDA to select 52 additional projects.
Where does funding for the School Construction Program come from?
Money for school construction funding is provided by New Jersey Economic Development Authority School Facilities Construction Bonds. Through September, 2009, the EDA had issued $8,145,929,000 of the $12.5 billion of bonds authorized by EFCFA. Further financing activity generally will coincide with future cash flow requirements for already-committed projects.
The legislation that brought about this funding was in response to a court case brought by the former Abbott districts, forcing the state to fund construction on their schools. The state will need to make good on the funding in order to avoid being taken back to court.
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