A bond referendum is a vote in which a school district asks voters for permission to borrow funds through the sale of bonds. Only after an approved referendum can a district sell bonds to fund large-scale projects that are not achievable using the annual budget. That annual budget funds day-to-day operations, such as salaries, supplies, and regular maintenance.
During the strategic planning process last year, MBSD gathered feedback from the school community and the community at large. They used this feedback, along with guidance from the district administration and professional consultants, to prioritize projects that would add value and enrich the student experience, maintain financial sustainability, and foster community connectedness.
The Mendham Borough Board of Education is committed to sharing accurate information about the bond referendum with the community leading up to the vote on January 28, 2025. We encourage community members to visit this website frequently for updates and to attend the community information forums in December (virtual) and January (in-person). The district will share information through public forums, flyers, postcards, local media, and social media. Please share this information widely and direct all questions to Vote@mendhamboroschools.org.
The State of New Jersey allows just five dates each year that a public school district can hold a bond referendum. Options for are in September, December, January, and March, or a question can be tacked on to the lengthy General Election ballot in November.
The referendum process includes a significant review by the state Department of Education, which leads to the commitment of financial aid. Between receiving state approval and holding a referendum, the Mendham Borough Board of Education wanted plenty of time for residents to learn about the needs, the proposed solutions, and the advantages of state aid. Planning for the vote in January allowed enough time to meet that goal. It also kept this local issue from being overrun by national-level politicking.
A security vestibule and new windows at Mountain View School would increase building safety for students and staff. Hilltop School is already benefiting from a security vestibule.
The science labs at Mountain View and media center at Hilltop would undergo updates, so these spaces reflect today’s collaborative learning environments.
The auditorium planned to be built at Mountain View School would support performing arts education and expand related arts courses available to students. It would also add much-needed space for school and community events.
Building an auditorium at Mountain View School would create a gathering space that could house future events like student performances and graduation and enhance the performing arts programs and related arts courses.
The Mendham Borough community has a passion for the arts. More than 70% of Mountain View students participate in arts programs. A state-of-the-art auditorium would allow the district to expand performing and related arts education, host the promotion (graduation) celebration in-house, and create a space where community organizations could gather for events.
The science labs at Mountain View have not changed in many years, and the way they are used has also evolved. Today’s classrooms are designed to offer more space for hands-on, collaborative learning and technology. Updated science labs would help support and provide Mendham Borough students with a strong foundation that prepares them for high school. Currently, fifth graders do not have a science lab and the sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade labs are out of date and do not match today’s academic standards.
The media center at Hilltop School is outdated and serves a different purpose to today’s students. The proposed renovation would offer more space for group work and student gatherings and improve sightlines throughout.
Replacing windows and roofing would offer a long-term solution and reduce the need for costly, patchwork repairs. In addition, new windows and roofing would be more cost and energy-efficient.
A security vestibule at Mountain View School would increase safety when guests visit our building by keeping them in a holding area until they have been permitted to enter. (Hilltop School already has a security vestibule).
If voters approve Question 2, the auditorium is expected to be completed by early 2027.
The district has maintained fiscal responsibility for years. The Board has prioritized projects in Question 1 that qualify for the maximum amount of $3.39 million in state aid. Big ticket items like lighting, roofing, windows, and boilers would be replaced with more energy-efficient materials that would help improve cost efficiency and reduce the need for patchwork fixes.
Mendham Borough School District’s annual budget covers the costs of day-to-day operations, salaries, supplies, and regular maintenance, along with funding for our educational programs.
Even if room could be found in the budget to cover the costs of some of the proposed projects, utilizing a bond referendum is a strategic approach that allows us to tap into $3.39 million in state aid that otherwise wouldn’t be available.
If voters approve Question 1 of the Jan. 28 bond referendum, the owner of a home assessed at Mendham Borough’s average of $693,518 would see an estimated net decrease of $76 per year in taxes for PreK-8 school debt.
If both questions pass, the owner of an average assessed home in Mendham Borough can expect to pay a net tax impact of about $22 per month. This investment would be spread across all taxpayers for the length of the 25-year bond term.
Question 1 must pass for Question 2 to pass. If voters reject Question 1 but approve Question 2, neither proposal would pass.
The cost of the projects would be spread over 25 years among taxes paid by all property owners.
Assessed value, which is used to determine a homeowner's property taxes, is different than a home's market value. The market value of a home is typically a higher figure and is an estimate of how much a home could sell for in the current market. The average assessed value of a home in Mendham Borough is $693,518. Input your address into this website to learn your home’s assessed value.
The Board is not permitted to spend one penny more on the projects (no matter the source of funds) without obtaining additional voter approval. With the help of financial consultants and its architect, Mendham Borough has thoroughly researched the proposed projects and their associated costs and has included a contingency amount in the estimated total. That cushion considers potential increases in materials costs, gas prices and interest rates. If actual costs exceed what voters approved, plans will have to be adjusted to fit the budget.
The Board is only allowed to spend money on the projects approved by the voters. If the projects are complete and there are remaining bond proceeds, that money would be used to lower the tax rate.
The State of New Jersey has a current program for property tax relief and a new version in development.
Known as the "Senior Freeze," the current program offers property tax reimbursements for senior citizens and people with disabilities who qualify. More information is available on the Senior Freeze webpage or by calling (800) 882-6597.
A second plan in development is called the Stay NJ Property Tax Credit Program. The plan is due to the Legislature by May 30, 2024, with a program start date of Jan. 1, 2026. Other current programs are the NJ $250 Senior Citizen Property Tax Deduction and the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR).
Anyone registered to vote with a Mendham Borough address can participate in the Jan. 28 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 Jan. 7 to register. Online voter registration forms are available here, which require you to upload identification documents. Printed forms for mailing are available in English or Spanish.
Registered voters may vote in person at their designated polling place. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling Locations:
District 1 and 2: Garabrant Center, 4 Wilson St.
District 3 and 4: Fire House, 24 E Main St.
District 5: Mendham Area Senior Housing, 1 Heritage Manor Dr.
If you are unsure of your polling location, click here.
Voting by mail is available for the bond referendum.
If you have voted by mail before, you may automatically receive a ballot in the mail. Look for that ballot a few weeks ahead of the Jan. 28 vote.
To request a Vote By Mail ballot, download the application here. Complete and submit that to have a ballot mailed to you.
Vote By Mail ballots must be marked and either hand-delivered to the Board of Elections, placed in a designated drop-box, or postmarked by 8 p.m. Jan. 28.
Voters also may apply for a Vote By Mail ballot in person at the Morris County Clerk’s Office at 10 Court Street, Administration & Records Building, 1st Floor, Morristown anytime up until 3 p.m. on the day before the election. Ballots issued over the counter can then be taken directly to the County Clerk’s office in the same building or placed in the secure drop box located outside the building. Vote By Mail ballots cannot be turned in at a polling place.
If you show up to the 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.