Voters in 5 of 8 S. Jersey school districts OK projects

Voters in five South Jersey districts approved school construction and renovation referendum questions on Tuesday.

Similar ballot questions in three other districts failed, even though the projects stood to receive substantial state reimbursement.

Statewide, 19 of 25 districts with referendums won approvals authorizing a combined $166 million in school construction, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association. But that was less than half of the $440 million sought in total, signaling that some big-sticker proposals did not sit well with voters.

In Mount Holly, four funding questions that would have totaled about $34 million and fixed leaky roofs in three buildings, upgraded technology, and completed a wide range of repairs were turned down. The ballot questions were a second try after a spring question to authorize all the work was defeated.

Outside the F.W. Holbein School - a Mount Holly polling place - on Tuesday night, some who rejected the questions pointed to an uncertain economy, shaky personal finances, and, for older voters, limited income. The bottom line, they said, was they didn't want to pay more taxes.

"When you're retired on a fixed income, you can't keep paying that money," said Larry Tigar, 70, who is retired from the Air Force.

District officials said many of the repairs were badly needed, and the district could have gotten $22.4 million back from the state.

"This leaves the district with countless facility issues and no viable method to fund the needed improvements," Superintendent David Gentile said in a message on the district's Web site.

The Mount Holly question would have raised property tax on the average home, valued at $82,000, by about $390 year.

Officials also were disappointed in Pennsauken, where a nearly $34.7 million proposal to replace an aging elementary school was defeated. That tax increase would have been $75 a year on the average home, valued at $92,400, and the project was eligible for $2.4 million in state reimbursement.

Business administrator Pasquale Yacovelli said the hope was to open a new grade school in fall 2012, not to keep repairing the old building.

"It's like throwing good money after bad," he said.

Riverside voters voted down two proposals that would have built a new playground, renovated athletic spaces, and made other improvements. Had both passed, the owner of the average home, valued at $153,000, would have paid $142 more a year.

Districts can put their projects up for vote again. The soonest that could happen would be in December.

School officials in Hainesport won't have to. Voters approved a new roof and other repairs to the district's school totaling $9.6 million, with more than $3.8 million coming back from the state. The result is a $24 tax increase on the average home, valued at $162,000.

Superintendent Susan Mintz said her district did a big informational push that had parents call voters, put fliers in every home, and make available photographs of the failing roof.

In Clayton, voters accepted an approximately $216 annual tax increase on the average home, valued at $100,000, to pay for $20 million in improvements that are to remedy overcrowding.

"In these tough economic times, it was very rewarding to see the community is supporting their schools," said Superintendent Cleve Bryant.

Stratford voters approved $8.8 million in renovations that, between $3.6 million from the state and other debt closure, will require no tax increase.

Going green found favor in Shamong and Pitman, where referendums on installing solar panels and other energy improvements will enable cost savings and, officials said, eventually lead to revenue from energy sales.

Michael Mados, Shamong's business administrator, said the $2.6 million project was expected to pay for itself in less than four years. The tax increase to the owner of the average home, valued at $150,000, is $13 a year.

In Pitman, the green improvements for which voters approved $2 million are expected to yield a tax saving of about $18 a year on the average home, valued at $109,000, according to Superintendent Thomas Schulte. Solar panels to be placed on the high school's roof will also be used as a learning tool.

"We're real excited about it," Schulte said.