$12.7M Bond Referendum Set In Waretown

WARETOWN, NJ — Waretown voters will be asked on Nov. 3 to decide whether the Ocean Township School District can move ahead with a $12.7 million bond referendum for building and system upgrades at its two schools.

The Ocean Township School District Board of Education approved putting the question on the General Election ballot, according to district information released about the proposal.

The district said the plan focuses on what it called the most critical facilities needs, including roofing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, generators and other building systems tied to daily school operations. If voters approve the referendum, the district said it is eligible to receive about $4.3 million in state aid, or roughly 34 percent of the total project cost.

“We recognize that we have a responsibility to our taxpayers and have put together a thoughtful and fiscally responsible plan to maintain our schools and address the most critical facilities needs, not wants. These improvements would help us provide the safe and healthy learning environment that our students need and deserve,” said Superintendent of Ocean Township School District Ariane Phillips. “Voter approval of a bond referendum would allow the district to complete projects with the advantage of state aid covering approximately 34% of costs. That money keeps the tax rate steady with a minimal tax increase.”

According to the district, doing the work through the yearly budget would mean the state funding would not be available, and the projects would be completed at full price. The district also said every New Jersey taxpayer contributes to the state’s school construction funding system, and a local referendum gives Waretown a chance to bring some of that money back to its schools.

At Frederic A. Priff School, the proposal includes roof replacement, an upgraded emergency generator to protect information technology equipment, and several HVAC improvements. The district also listed replacement of an aging rooftop HVAC unit, a multi-purpose room air-handling unit, and a boiler and chiller that it said are at the end of their useful life.

At Waretown Elementary School, the proposed work includes roof replacement, connecting the existing emergency generator to information technology equipment and communication systems, and updating fire alarm systems. The plan also includes selected classroom HVAC replacements, replacement of an aging rooftop HVAC unit, new air-handling equipment, a boiler in the 1958 section, a chiller, and adding the kitchen ventilation system to building-management controls.

The district said the estimated tax impact would be about $4 per month for a home assessed at Waretown’s average of $466,994. Residents can review the full proposal at www.otsdk6.org/vote. The district also said it will share information through printed materials and a community forum, and residents can send questions through Nov. 3 to vote@otsdk6.org.