Mahwah Public Schools is holding a bond referendum on Tuesday, March 10. School districts use referenda to fund major school projects, with the help of state aid to offset the costs and spread the payments over time.
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Make Your Voice Heard - Vote March 10
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THE BOARD AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION CHOSE THIS FUNDING STRATEGY TO:
THE BOARD AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION CHOSE THIS FUNDING STRATEGY TO:
Fund major capital improvements
Secure $28.1 million in state aid, reducing tax impact
Enhance and ensure safe and secure facilities
Improve and enhance learning environments to foster student success
Provide access to Mahwah’s facilities for community members of all ages
TOP 5 FAQs
TOP 5 FAQs
1. Would the upcoming home reassessment increase the tax increase from the referendum?
1. Would the upcoming home reassessment increase the tax increase from the referendum?
No, the reassessment will not change the referendum tax burden for residents. It's calculated based on the current assessed value. That obligation will remain during the repayment of the bond.
2. Why are the Question 2 investments important to our schools and community?
2. Why are the Question 2 investments important to our schools and community?
The projects in Question 2 were designed to expand and build upon the projects in Question 1, to provide necessary improvements to our schools.
In the mid-1990s, Mahwah's population grew dramatically. The district responded by building additional classroom space in almost every school and a new school at Lenape Meadows to accommodate that growth. In making those investments, priority was given to classroom space. The consequence was that the support spaces needed to serve a larger school population and are no longer adequate to meet the needs of today's students. Gyms at GW, BR and MHS, the Betsy Ross library, and the MHS auditorium do not meet students' needs.
Additionally, the district and board of education took into consideration their commitment to providing students with extracurricular activities and learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Additional turf fields at RR and MHS support these programs and provide the community with additional recreational facilities.
Learn more about Question 2 projects in these videos:
3. What happens if the referendum does not pass?
3. What happens if the referendum does not pass?
Many of the projects must be done whether or not voters approve the referendum. Approval gives the district the added benefit of using state aid to help cover a portion of the project costs. The district’s operating budget does not have the capacity to cover major improvements across multiple buildings in our high-achieving district.
Here’s what to expect if voters don’t approve the referendum:
Mahwah will lose out on $28.1 million in state aid toward these projects; the district will have to shoulder the entire costs;
Projects would be done in stages, with total project costs solely coming from the annual budget;
Preventing a continued proactive approach to maintenance and replace systems before they break down (these are systems our students and staff rely on every day);
Piecemeal repairs as things break down, which could cause higher costs in the long run;
Instead of updating and replacing systems as they age, the systems would become prone to unscheduled breakdowns, which are costly to repair, and our students and faculty would experience significant disruptions to learning when last-minute space closures become more frequent;
Funds must be diverted away from educational programs and/or staffing to support facility needs if they become critical.
Our engineers and buildings and grounds department have identified over $70 million worth of necessary updates or system replacements that will be needed over the next 5-6 years. This level of investment is far beyond what the annual operating budget could support without widespread reductions to programs.
Specifically:
At BR: Students continue to use an inadequate trailer as a media center. The school’s multipurpose space, which has classroom-height ceilings that are not high enough for basketball hoops and multiple pillars in the middle of the room that create obstacles during physical education classes, will continue to host the physical education program, serve as a cafeteria, and host numerous events while creating continued scheduling challenges.
At MHS: Mahwah High School’s auditorium will remain the same with dated and inadequate seating, sound, lighting, and restrooms.
In order to update the fields, the district will have to look into utilizing capital reserve funds, which do not equal the total cost of the field projects.
The existing and original gymnasium that is smaller than surrounding districts and competitors will remain the only indoor athletic facility at MHS.
At GW: The school’s only gym will continue to host the physical education program, serve as a cafeteria, and host numerous events while creating continued scheduling challenges.
4. If voters approve the referendum, what is the schedule for construction?
4. If voters approve the referendum, what is the schedule for construction?
The district is taking an aggressive approach with scheduling. After designs are finalized, and the bid process is completed it is our expectation to have shovels in the ground by spring of 2027 (Betsy Ross School, Mahwah High School, and George Washington School). Ultimately, projects will be completed in phases.
The schedule will be designed to minimize the level of disruption to our educational program, maximizing the amount of work that could take place over summer breaks or when students are not otherwise in school. There remains a number of projects that can be addressed even with students in the building. The district aims to complete all of the projects within 4-5 years.
5. How is assessed value different than market value?
5. How is assessed value different than market value?
A home’s assessed value, which is used to determine property taxes, is different than the home’s market value. The market value of a home is typically a higher dollar amount. Market value is not used for any aspect of determining your tax obligation.
Inputting your address into this website will give you your home’s assessed value. Once you have your home’s assessed value, you can use the charts below to determine your estimated tax impact.
Learn More: Virtual Community Information Forum Recording
Learn More: Virtual Community Information Forum Recording
Mahwah Public Schools hosted a virtual community information forum on Wednesday, Feb. 11, allowing community members the opportunity to ask questions directly to district administrators and professional consultants.
Detailed Overview
Detailed Overview
Mahwah Public Schools are well-maintained, but the time has come for us to replace and upgrade the systems and structures that keep our schools running. Proposed improvements would benefit all six schools in the district. State aid, which is available with voter approval, would offset the project costs.
Overview from Dr. DeTuro
Overview from Dr. DeTuro
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. DeTuro breaks down why the March 10 bond referendum is so important.
THE FUTURE OF OUR FACILITIES
THE FUTURE OF OUR FACILITIES
AND OUR COMMUNITY
AND OUR COMMUNITY
Question 1: Critical Infrastructure Improvements and Upgrades to All Buildings to Maintain Core Operations, Security and Efficiency
Question 1: Critical Infrastructure Improvements and Upgrades to All Buildings to Maintain Core Operations, Security and Efficiency
Upgrade 20+ year old leaky roofing and inefficient HVAC systems
Replace aging, end-of-life boilers
Create a designated space for the 18-21-year-old special needs program to help students build life skills in Building 5 (current locker room and storage space) on the High School campus
Replace select windows and doors that are original to the building to enhance security
Complete exterior brickwork to preserve our beloved buildings
If voters approve Question 1, residents would see a $26 per month / $313 per year increase in school debt tax for a home assessed at the Mahwah average of $481,238.
REMINDER: QUESTION 2 CAN ONLY PASS IF QUESTION 1 ALSO PASSES
REMINDER: QUESTION 2 CAN ONLY PASS IF QUESTION 1 ALSO PASSES
Question 2: Create Consistency Among Elementary Schools, Improve the T-Bird & Community Experience
Question 2: Create Consistency Among Elementary Schools, Improve the T-Bird & Community Experience
Build new, designated gymnasiums at Betsy Ross and George Washington Elementary Schools to ease crowding, create a safe and functional physical education space and more gymnasium space to our community organizations
Replace media center, currently housed in a trailer, and add a music room at Betsy Ross
Build a new, second gymnasium at the High School - current gymnasium is original 1950s layout that lacks space compared to neighboring districts - with spectator bleachers on both sides, to improve scheduling and access for students and community recreation programs
Renovate the High School auditorium, entrance and lobby - including the original 1950s seating
Install new turf and LED lighting in the High School stadium to replace the current, worn turf and create reliable field space for extracurriculars and community recreation programs
Upgrade grass fields at the High School and Ramapo Ridge with turf and lighting to create reliable field space for students and community recreation programs
If voters approve Question 2, residents would see an additional $31 per month / $368 per year increase in school debt tax for a home assessed at the Mahwah average of $481,238.
$138.4 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS
$28.1 MILLION IN STATE AID
AVAILABLE THROUGH A VOTER-APPROVED REFERENDUM
$138.4 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS
$28.1 MILLION IN STATE AID
AVAILABLE THROUGH A VOTER-APPROVED REFERENDUM
THE PATH TO A REFERENDUM
THE PATH TO A REFERENDUM
2020: Architects begin evaluating facilities
2020: Architects begin evaluating facilities
2024: Strategic planning process guides district to referendum
2024: Strategic planning process guides district to referendum
Fall 2025: Community feedback leads to referendum project selection
Fall 2025: Community feedback leads to referendum project selection
December 2025: District announces referendum; BOE finalizes referendum projects after state review, shares tax impact
December 2025: District announces referendum; BOE finalizes referendum projects after state review, shares tax impact
Winter 2026: District continues to engage the community
Winter 2026: District continues to engage the community
Feb. 4: In-person community information forum at 6:30 p.m. | Mahwah High School auditorium
Feb. 4: In-person community information forum at 6:30 p.m. | Mahwah High School auditorium
March 10, 2026: VOTE (in-person or by mail) Polls open from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.
March 10, 2026: VOTE (in-person or by mail) Polls open from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Mahwah Public Schools is determined to inform all community members about the March 10 bond referendum.
Mahwah Public Schools is determined to inform all community members about the March 10 bond referendum.
Click here to view downloadable graphics that can be shared with friends and neighbors to help spread the word about the upcoming vote.
Click here to view downloadable graphics that can be shared with friends and neighbors to help spread the word about the upcoming vote.
Since 2018, more than $20 million worth of facilities updates have been made across the district.
Since 2018, more than $20 million worth of facilities updates have been made across the district.
A referendum would give the district upfront funding to complete major improvements all at once plus state aid to offset project costs and allow the costs to be spread out over time.
WHAT OTHER FUNDING SOURCES HAS THE DISTRICT EXPLORED?
WHAT OTHER FUNDING SOURCES HAS THE DISTRICT EXPLORED?
Over the past eight years, the district has completed many projects funded outside the regular operating budget - including through grant programs and the capital reserve - to enhance the student experience. The T3 building that houses STEAM classes was constructed with funds from the operating budget in 2018.
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