Frequently Asked Questions

A bond referendum is simply a vote. New Jersey public school districts are required to ask permission from local voters to sell bonds to borrow money. Funds from a bond referendum are often used to finance infrastructure projects and large-scale maintenance. This allows the district to spread the payments over time, similar to how a homeowner uses a home equity loan to pay for an improvement. Importantly, these kinds of projects qualify for a special kind of state aid that is only available to districts with voter-approved bonds.  

The district’s leaders have long been thinking about how to maintain and modernize school buildings; this ensures that the buildings support Madison’s high-academic standards and can remain as fixtures in the community for years to come. In January 2022, an independent demographic and facility utilization study outlined recommendations. That served as a starting point for determining the referendum projects. 

Then, a referendum committee of parents, staff members and citizens focused on the community’s priorities for the schools. With input from professional consultants, the Board of Education decided on a three-question referendum consisting primarily of:  

• Infrastructure updates to support healthy, safe and accessible learning environments 

• Interior and exterior renovations for increased functionality  

• Space additions and renovations to support student enrollment and modern educational standards

The district’s operating budget does the important job of funding day-to-day expenses such as salaries, benefits, maintenance and supplies. Bond funding, however, brings an advantage that the operating budget does not have. That advantage is state aid to cover as much as one third of the costs of important projects. Without that, the operating budget would cover 100% of the costs. A bond referendum is one way the Board of Education looks for funding outside the local tax base. 

The Madison Board of Education is committed to sharing accurate information about the bond referendum with the community leading up to the Dec. 12 vote. We encourage members of the community to visit this website frequently for updates and to attend community information forums. The district will share information through a video, public forums, flyers, local media, and social media. Please share this information widely and direct all questions to vote@madisonpublicschools.org.  

A full listing of all projects included in each question and what’s planned for the schools is available on the Proposed Projects page.  

The proposed projects across the district will include: 

• Exterior and interior building improvements to increase health, safety and accessibility, like district-wide security upgrades     

• Interior renovations would be done in areas that haven’t received attention in years, such as bathrooms across the district     

• Modernized, reliable heating systems, air conditioning in academic areas, and electrical updates     

• Roofing and window replacements to reduce emergency repairs and increase energy efficiency 

Other proposed upgrades include improvements to shared spaces across the district.   

At a meeting on September 26, the Board of Education approved three ballot questions. The three-question approach allows voters to consider different levels of community investment and priorities. A list of the projects, costs and state aid associated with each question is available on the Funding Page. 

If voters approve the referendum on December 12, the district can enter the next phase of selling bonds and seeking competitive construction bids. Construction could begin as soon as summer 2024. 

Work will be scheduled in coordination with the district to keep the level of disruption to a minimum. The projects are expected to be completed over three to four years. 

The district’s current HVAC systems are outdated and inefficient. Many of the systems are original to the schools’ construction; some are as old as 50 years. These older systems lead to classrooms having inconsistent temperatures during the hotter and colder months. In the cooler months, heating fluctuates from room to room; in the warmer months, our classrooms don’t have air conditioning and some rooms can be 5-10 degrees hotter than the outside temperatures. In the first few days of school, Madison had to dismiss students earlier than scheduled due to extreme heat. 

The district is proposing upgrades to the HVAC systems to improve air quality, heating, reliability and energy efficiency – all of which would create a better learning environment for students and working environment for staff. While some classrooms have window air conditioning units, these are inefficient and do not create the proper air ventilation for classrooms. Some common areas have air conditioning, but it is not consistent across schools. Air conditioning in every classroom and common area in each school would provide comfort and relief from allergies and asthma symptoms for students across the entire district. It would also allow students to focus on academics in comfortable spaces. 

An Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) systems would also allow the temperature at every school to be monitored and controlled to maximize comfort and efficiency. This would allow the district to control temperatures based on whether a space is occupied or not, which could reduce the district’s energy bills. Greater control gives the opportunity to spot the warning signs of a system failure before it occurs and take preventative measures to reduce potential disruptions to the school day.

Boilers generate heat, while Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems draw air in and move it through the buildings. New energy-efficient HVAC systems would better distribute the heat generated by the boilers and add air conditioning. Boilers nearing the end of their useful life would be replaced at Central Avenue and Madison High School. In the case of Central Avenue, the steam boiler would be replaced with a more efficient hot water boiler. 

Unit ventilators bring fresh air into classrooms and heat or cool it as necessary. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we learned that our classrooms had no source of fresh air ventilation. The proposal calls for replacing inefficient classrooms unit ventilators in every school in the district. 

Many of Madison High School’s unit ventilators were recently replaced through a Capital Reserve project.

Many schools across the country are thinking about how best to protect students and staff. Madison takes this very seriously. The proposal includes improving entryway security by adding cameras, additional card readers and protective window film as well as updating fire alarm systems across the district. Current systems are inconsistent between buildings, some replacement parts are difficult to obtain and maintenance for some of the systems is expensive. One school had a system failure that resulted in closure, causing students to miss a day of school. 

Upgrading fire alarm systems across the district would provide consistency for service, maintenance and finding replacement parts when needed, which could bring the district savings of both time and costs – in addition to peace of mind. 

A new public address system would be installed to enhance communication methods on an everyday basis as well as in the event of an emergency. Adding emergency generators would help ensure these systems can all run smoothly in the event of an outage.

The current electrical systems in our schools cannot support the necessary upgrades to HVAC systems, fire alarms, public address systems and interior lighting controls. New electrical systems would be added to better support nearly every school in the district, with the exception of Torey J. Sabatini, which underwent a recent electrical service update. 

Many of our schools were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act; this has led us to create work arounds in some cases, such as installing expensive chair lifts in multiple spots at MHS where there are a few steps to pass through hallways. Students who need to use these lifts often leave class early to meet a staff member to assist them in using the lift. To replace these mechanical chair lifts at the high school, which are inconvenient and expensive to repair, three ramps are planned to create an accessible way for students, staff members and visitors to navigate the building. 

In addition, the exterior of MJS would receive a ramp at the front entrance, while preserving the historic look of the building. KRS would receive a new chair lift to improve accessibility to the second floor of the building. 

For students, staff and visitors with mobility challenges, the referendum would be a significant step for ADA accommodations and could improve their daily routines.

The NJ Department of Education reviewed and approved the district’s bond proposal for projects estimated to cost $79.4 million for all three questions. State aid would contribute $21.9 million if all three questions pass. The breakdown for each question is: 

• Question 1: $49.4 million in improvements; state pays $15.6 million 

• Question 2: $11.6 million in improvements; state pays $3.7 million 

• Question 3: $18.3 million in improvements; state pays $2.6 million 

These figures include not just the work on the projects, but professional and permit fees, as well as a cushion calculated by the district’s financial advisors to account for market fluctuations and contingencies.  

By doing these projects as part of a bond referendum, the district qualifies for a type of state aid that it would not receive otherwise. That state aid is collected from taxpayers statewide and earmarked to be distributed to schools that receive approval through a bond referendum. If voters approve all three questions in the proposal, the district will receive $21.9 million in state aid toward the total project costs of $79.4 million. 

Each of the three questions comes with a different level of community investment. If all three questions pass, the owner of a home assessed at the Madison average of $690,587 would see an increase of approximately $69 per month for school debt. 

• If only Question 1 passes, that same homeowner would see a $40 per month increase. 

• If Question 1 and 2 pass, that same homeowner would see an additional $10 per month increase. Question 2 can only go into effect if Question 1 is also approved by voters. 

• If Question 1, 2, and 3 pass, that same homeowner would see an additional $19 per month increase. Question 3 can only go into effect if Question 1 and Question 2 are also approved by voters. 

If your home’s assessment is different than the Madison average ($690,587), you can estimate your level of investment with a calculator. Please note that the estimated tax impact is an average over the 20-year term of the investment.
  

Total Investment: The tax impact per $100 of assessed property for Questions 1, 2 and 3 is currently $0.119. Personalize your estimated impact by multiplying your property’s assessed value by 0.00119 to find the annual tax impact. (As an example: $400,000 x 0.00119 = $476 per year or $40 per month.)  
 

Question 1: The tax impact per $100 of assessed property for Question 1 is currently $0.070. Personalize your estimated impact by multiplying your property’s assessed value by 0.00070 to find the annual tax impact. (As an example: $400,000 x 0.00070 divided by 12 = $280 per year or $23 per month.) 

Question 2: The tax impact per $100 of assessed property for Question 2 is currently $0.016. Personalize your estimated impact by multiplying your property’s assessed value by 0.00016 to find the annual tax impact. (As an example: $400,000 x 0.00016 divided by 12 = $64 per year or $5 per month.) *Question 2 can only go into effect if Question 1 is also approved by voters. 

Question 3: The tax impact per $100 of assessed property for Question 1 is currently $0.033. Personalize your estimated impact by multiplying your property’s assessed value by 0.00113 to find the annual tax impact. (As an example: $400,000 x 0.00033 = $132 per year or $11 per month.) *Question 3 can only go into effect if Question 1 and Question 2 are also approved by voters. 

The cost of the projects would be spread over 20 years among all residents who pay property taxes.  

The district can’t spend more than the amount approved by voters in the bond referendum. That’s why the district worked with experts in the field to thoroughly research the projects and costs and include a contingency in the total. That cushion takes into account spikes that could occur if materials costs or interest rates rise. If actual costs exceed what voters approved, plans will have to be adjusted to fit the budget. 

The Madison Public Schools bond referendum will result in a tax increase to cover the cost of proposed projects if both questions pass. The State of New Jersey offers a property tax reimbursement program known as "Senior Freeze." 

It protects some senior citizens and people with disabilities from having to pay higher taxes on their homes, and that is true not only for this school board referendum but for other taxes. 

More information, including the income requirements to qualify for this program, is on the state's Senior Freeze webpage.

Anyone registered to vote with a Madison address can participate in the December bond referendum. 

If your name or address recently changed, please check whether your registration is still valid. Check your registration here.  

If it is not valid, you have until November 21 to register. Online voter registration forms are available here, and printed forms for mailing are available in English and Spanish. 

Polls will be open on Tuesday, Dec. 12. Poll times and locations will be added here once they are confirmed with the county.  

Vote By Mail is an option in this referendum. If you have already requested a ballot to be mailed to you and your address is unchanged, Morris County election officials will send you a Vote By Mail ballot automatically several weeks before the December vote date. To confirm your status for Vote By Mail, contact the County Clerk’s Office at countyclerk@co.morris.nj.us or 973-285-6066. 

If you want to Vote By Mail but are not yet signed up, you can submit an application here. Additional information from the county is available here. 

When you receive your Vote By Mail ballot, fill it out and bring it to one of the drop box locations listed here no later than 8 p.m. on referendum day. You can also mail it with a postmark date of December 12. It cannot be brought to a polling place. Or you can deliver it in person to the County Clerk’s Office by 8 p.m.on that day. 

You can track your ballot using the state’s voter portal. Setting up an account is free. This is the only way to reliably monitor the status of your ballot online.  

If you show up to your polling station on voting day and are told your ballot was mailed to you, or that you are not able to vote, ask for a provisional ballot. This ensures your ballot will be counted once all mailed ballots are double-checked and processed.  

Voters will be asked for permission to borrow the full amount of the project costs in each question.  Even though state aid will reduce that amount, the school district would be named as the debt-holder so voter approval is needed for the full amounts. 

The ballot questions include the total project costs and the explanation that state aid will cover 40 percent of the “final eligible costs of the projects.” The state has historically awarded a lower amount and that is what the district’s financial advisers used to determine the estimated tax impact. If all three questions are approved for Madison, that state aid amount is $21,886,506 ($15,654,152 for Question 1, $3,738,042 for Question 2, and $2,584,312 for Question 3). 

You can view the sample ballot on the Morris County Clerk's website.

BOND PROPOSAL QUESTION NO. 1  

The Board of Education of the Borough of Madison in the County of Morris, New Jersey is authorized (a) to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades at Central Avenue Elementary School, Kings Road Elementary School, Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, Madison Junior School, and Madison High School, including but not limited to, as applicable, ADA improvements, replacement of interior doors, flooring, and ceilings, electrical improvements and upgrades, replacement of fire alarms, renovations to toilet rooms, security improvements, replacement of various exit signs, the acquisition and installation of public address systems, and asbestos abatement, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work; (b) to undertake the re-roofing of portions of Madison High School, including any site work; (c) to appropriate $49,419,482 for such improvements; and (d) to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $49,419,482.  

The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $45,777,364 (consisting of $8,142,952 for Central Avenue Elementary School, $5,719,752 for Kings Road Elementary School, $5,501,869 for Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, $8,863,287 for Madison Junior School, and $17,549,504 for Madison High School). The projects include $3,642,118 (consisting of $539,909 for Central Avenue Elementary School, $302,366 for Kings Road Elementary School, $208,623 for Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, $835,287 for Madison Junior School, and $1,755,933 for Madison High School) for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for State support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The State debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The Board of Education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this election. 

Do you approve this Bond Proposal Question No. 1?  

BOND PROPOSAL QUESTION NO. 2  

(Bond Proposal Question No. 2 will only go into effect if Bond Proposal Question No. 1 is also approved by the voters at this election.)  

The Board of Education of the Borough of Madison in the County of Morris, New Jersey is authorized (a) to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades at Central Avenue Elementary School, Kings Road Elementary School, Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, Madison Junior School, and Madison High School, including but not limited to, as applicable, HVAC upgrades, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any site work; (b) to purchase and install generators for Central Avenue Elementary School, Kings Road Elementary School, Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, Madison Junior School, and Madison High School, (c) to replace windows at Central Avenue School; (d) to appropriate $11,626,500 for such improvements; and (e) to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $11,626,500.  

The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $10,994,713 (consisting of $2,823,250 for Central Avenue Elementary School, $751,048 for Kings Road Elementary School, $954,530 for Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, $2,329,110 for Madison Junior School, and $4,136,775 for Madison High School). The projects include $631,485 (consisting of $0 for Central Avenue Elementary School, $93,900 for Kings Road Elementary School, $51,720 for Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, $137,640 for Madison Junior School, and $348,225 for Madison High School) for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for State support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The State debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The Board of Education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this election.  

Do you approve this Bond Proposal Question No. 2?  

BOND PROPOSAL QUESTION NO. 3  

(Bond Proposal Question No. 3 will only go into effect if Bond Proposal Questions No. 1 and 2 are also approved by the voters at this election.)  

The Board of Education of the Borough of Madison in the County of Morris, New Jersey is authorized (a) to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, and upgrades, consisting of exterior improvements, sidewalk replacement, playground upgrades, and to construct an addition at Central Avenue Elementary School, including the acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any site work; (b) to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, and upgrades, consisting of exterior improvements, sidewalk replacement, and to construct an addition and to undertake various renovations to 7 the multi-purpose room at Kings Road Elementary School, including the acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any site work; (c) to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, and upgrades, consisting of exterior improvements, and sidewalk replacement at Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, including the acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any site work; (d) to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, and upgrades, consisting of exterior improvements, sidewalk repair, paving upgrades, and athletic fields repairs and upgrades at Madison Junior School, including the acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any site work; (e) to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, and upgrades, consisting of exterior improvements, sidewalk repair, paving upgrades, athletic fields repairs and upgrades, including new turf, and renovations to the gymnasium, including the acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any site work; (f) to appropriate $18,311,703 for such improvements; and (g) to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $18,311,703.  

The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $7,601,208 (consisting of $1,499,978 for Central Avenue Elementary School, $621,294 for Kings Road Elementary School, $49,522 for Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, $970,585 for Madison Junior School, and $4,459,829 for Madison High School). The projects include $3,526,091 (consisting of $531,582 for Central Avenue Elementary School, $33,940 for Kings Road Elementary School, $23,158 for Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, $215,030 for Madison Junior School, and $2,722,381 for Madison High School) for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for State support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G- 5(g). The State debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The Board of Education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this election.  

Do you approve this Bond Proposal Question No. 3?

The discrepancy in Question 3 is due to the state’s formula for determining eligible costs. Eligibility for renovations is based on actual project costs. So generally speaking, for renovations, eligible costs + ineligible costs will add up to the total project costs. Which is why the numbers add up in Questions 1 & 2, which are for renovations. 

Eligibility for new construction is based upon an assumption (as set forth in the statute) that the cost for an addition is $143 per square foot. However, the actual cost to build one square foot is much higher than the $143. Therefore, the eligible costs for new construction will not equal the actual cost of new construction. The amount to be issued in bonds is higher due to the current market price per square foot to build the proposed additions at CAS and KRS, which are new construction.