Students thrive when they’re in the right learning environment. That’s a matter of physical structure as much as instruction. Maintaining and updating Rockaway Valley School requires proper planning and a sound financial strategy.  

A bond referendum would meet our goal of addressing building needs while minimizing the cost for local taxpayers. It’s the only funding mechanism that offers the opportunity for state aid to offset the local cost. If voters approve the March 12 referendum, Boonton Township School District will receive $4.7 million in state aid – almost a third of the project costs. 

Taxpayers from across New Jersey contribute to the state revenue that funds school district construction projects. Only communities that approve a school bond referendum will see a local benefit. If our referendum does not pass, the state aid that was earmarked for Boonton Township School District will be allocated to other districts. 

• Annual budget: This fund accounts for day-to-day needs and is used for teacher salaries and benefits, transportation, instructional materials and similar expenses. When possible, districts address minor building needs within the budget.

• Capital Reserve: This “rainy day” savings is comprised of unused funds from the annual budget. It can be used to pay for individual capital projects, such as the partial roof replacements that Boonton Township School District completed through Capital Reserve over the past two years.

• Bond referendum: A public school district can use a bond referendum as a strategy to address comprehensive, large-scale projects much more quickly than would be possible any other way. Plus, a referendum is the only method that provides state aid toward funding building improvements. 

Boonton Township voters last approved a school bond referendum in 2000, to build the middle school wing at Rockaway Valley School. The district was poised to hold the next referendum in 2020-21, but the pandemic disrupted the plan. 

Payments for the last referendum ended in 2021, so this new investment would pick up where those payments left off.

The state's Senior Freeze program reimburses eligible seniors and people with disabilities if their property taxes increase for any reason.

A new law increased the income limit for the program to $150,000 and eliminated the requirement that an applicant live in New Jersey for 10 consecutive years. Other requirements for age/disability and three years of home ownership remain.  More information, including how to apply for this program, is available through the state’s Senior Freeze webpage or by calling the Senior Tax Freeze hotline at 1-800-882-6597.