At its meeting on August 16, 2016, the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District Board of Education will be voting to approve a referendum question to be included on the November 8, 2016 general and school elections ballot. The Board voted in June to move forward with a referendum, which will include the following projects:
- Replacement of windows at North Hunterdon High School (Projected cost not to exceed $1,635,000)
- Replacement of all windows at Voorhees High School (Projected cost not to exceed $1,419,000)
- Renovations of the library/technology center at North Hunterdon High School (Projected cost not to exceed $1,073,000)
- Renovations of the library/technology center at Voorhees High School (Projected cost not to exceed $1,073,000)
- Upgrades to HVAC system at North Hunterdon High School, which will provide air conditioning to 21 classrooms and ancillary spaces (Projected cost not to exceed $2,024,000)
- Replacement of the stadium visitor bleachers with ADA upgrades at Voorhees High School (Projected cost not to exceed $598,000)
- Replacement of stadium visitor bleachers and tennis court bleachers at North Hunterdon High School (Projected cost not to exceed $1,130,000)
- Addition of an ADA ramp to stadium home bleachers at Voorhees High School ($226,000)
- Renovation of the athletic field house at North Hunterdon High School (Projected cost not to exceed $565,000)
Total Projected Cost Not to Exceed = $9,743,000
Passage of this referendum is not anticipated to raise taxes. The Board will make its final annual debt service payment on its 2009 bond this year, and reasonably expects that the new annual debt service payment will be less than the annual payment on the 2009 bond.
In addition, the referendum package is eligible for up to 29.65% debt service aid from the state, equaling up to $2.8 million. This state aid would reduce the taxpayers’ share of the total project cost to 70.35%. This state funding would only be available if the voters approve the referendum. The Board would fund its share of the referendum costs through the issuance of a 15-year bond.
More specific information on taxes for each municipality will be provided at the August 16th Board of Education meeting, during which the Board will vote to approve the specific ballot language.