Mount Olive to vote on $62M school referendum. Why officials see 'dire need' for upgrades
A little more than a month after Election Day, Mount Olive residents will return to the polls to vote on a $61.7 million school district referendum that would fund what administrators say are needed improvements for "the health, safety and modern instructional needs" of its almost 4,600 students.
The Board of Education authorized the Dec. 12 public vote at a meeting last week, acting on a recent demographic study that indicated the district would increase enrollment by 300 students or more over the next five years.
Much of the money would go toward infrastructure expansions and upgrades to the high school, middle school and four elementary schools, including new HVAC systems for all schools and replacement roofs for most.
At the Oct. 9 meeting, Superintendent Sumit Bangia said the referendum would fund "meat and potatoes" projects for a district that "is growing by leaps and bounds."
Board member Anthony Strillacci added the upgrades would be not "something of a want," but "something of a need."
A 54-year resident, Strillacci recalled four referendums overlapping each other in the 1970s as the district population exploded and classes were being "held in a bowling alley."
"I never want to see that again," he said. "we are in dire need of passing this referendum. No doubt about it. I have never been in this town where a referendum has failed. This one cannot fail."
The cost to the district could be offset by as much as $11.5 million in state funds if the referendum is approved in full, Bangia said.
The board agreed 7-1 to put the proposal to voters, with Christopher Zeier dissenting without comment and newly installed member Lauren Fitzgerald abstaining.
What's in the Mount Olive referendum?
The referendum is broken into two questions. The first would fund "infrastructure updates and upgraded spaces" including the HVAC systems, roofs and expansions at Mount Olive Middle School, and Sandshore and Tinc Road elementary schools.
Question 1 also would fund a second multi-purpose room at the middle school and the repaving of the high school parking lot.
Question 2 would add improvements to transportation and athletic facilities, including replacement of the district transportation garage, as well as a series of upgrades at Mount Olive High School: a locker room and storage area for physical education classes, modernizing the girls' locker room and expanding the boys' locker room and coach's area.
What's the cost to taxpayers?
Similar to big-ticket proposals in other districts − including a $70 million referendum in Madison − Mount Olive has separated their projects into two questions, the first addressing the highest-priority items.
That's intended to encourage the approval of funds for those needed projects while giving residents some control over the total cost. Regardless of the vote, Question 2 cannot pass unless Question 1 is approved.
Both questions would come with state aid. Costs for Question 1, estimated at $52.8 million, would be offset by $11.1 million in state aid. Question 2 costs, estimated at $8.9 million, would be reduced by another $438,433.
Tax burden
If both questions are approved by voters, the average homeowner would pay an increase of $328.12 annually, based on an average assessed home value of $322,121. If only Question 1 is passed, the tax increase would be reduced to $237.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com
Twitter: @wwesthoven
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infrastusrucs and upgraded spaces so eciting were touching on every sinngle school - dmeo study the mo sd is going to be groing be leaps and bounds in the next few years
ms updates - wellness wing two classromms -
what is the cost? 1 >52 state - 322000 /$23 month extra 2. athletic and trasnportation facility upgrades - new transportation garage - <9 million avg home $5 month
overall tax mpact >$27 month 322,000 - based upon the need of our district i cal it the meats and potatoes.
stilachi chair committee - \54 years school in a bowling alley i dont want to have to go throughthat again. in the last 2 decades every five years demo study - last on ethree years because we saw expeidicted - within 5 years we will have a minuminm of more than 300, With iimmigraton 500 that's the sive of a school
class size not the problem, the peolem is how many seats - this referendum is not somehting of a want, it is something of a need.
we are in dire need of passing this ref. No doubt about it. four bonds going on at t atime in the 1970s - i have never been in ths town where a referenudm has failed. This one cannot fail.
projects in this question would address building updates that are necessary to continue supporting the district’s tradition of excellence. Every school would receive HVAC improvements and nearly every school would get new roofing. Key spaces at Mount Olive Middle School, Sandshore and Tinc Road would be expanded to accommodate our growing enrollment, support modern instructional standards and preserve Mount Olive’s small class sizes. These updates would benefit the schools, students, district and community for many years to come.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Mount Olive NJ to vote on $62M in school upgrades. Here's the tax hit
